^r.,-7i;i 


This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below 


BOYVILLE 

A   HISTORY   OF    FIFTEEN   YEARS'   WORK 
AMONG  NEWSBOYS 

BY 

JOHN  E.  GUNCKEL 


ILLUSTRATED 


published  by 

The  Toledo  Newsboys'  association 

Toledo,  Ohio 


;883 


Copyrighted  1905^ 

BY  JOHN  E.  GUNCKEL 

All  rights  reserved 


7  Oli 


HY 

GreS 


(50  tl|^  NrfajsfaoyH  of  Amertca.  ani>  thm  ¥nn^& 
tl|ia  book  ia  res^jedfuUij  de5irate^ 


PRESS   OF 

THE    FRANKLIN   COMPANY 

TOLEDO,     OHIO 


LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS 

Page 

The  president  talking  to  the  newsboys,  Frontispiece 

"I  am  scattering-  hickory-nuts  under  this  old  tree 

for  the  children  to  find  termorrow,"         .         .         8 
The  original  charter  members,         ....       16 

Ready  to  start  for  the  first  Christmas  dinner,         .       24 
Where  the  Boyville  Newsboy's  Association  was  or- 
ganized,    December     25.     1892,         ...       32 
A  bunch   of   sellers,         ......       40 

Festival  Hall.    Where  the  National  Newsboy's  As- 
sociation was  organized,  August  16,  1904,         .       48 
Newsboys'   Band   and   Cadets — ready  to  start   for 
Washington,  D.  C,  to  participate  in  the  inaug- 
ural parade  of  President  Roosevelt,   March  4, 
1905,        .         .  '      .         .         .         .'       .         .56 

"I  am  an  officer  of  the  sellers'  auxiliary;  get  busy,"       64 

64 
72 
80 
88 
88 


"Lady,  I  am  sorry  I  run  away  wid  de  money,' 
"Trow    de    cirgarette    away," 
"President,  I  have  already  licked  de  kid," 
Getting  familiar  with  the  headlines, 
"Dis  here  is  de  dog,"       .... 


LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS 

(continued) 


Roll  of  honor — some  of  the  boys  who  turned  in  val 

uable  articles  found  on  the  street, 
The    Boyville   Cadets — when   first    organized, 
Members  of  the  East  Side  auxiliary, 

"Fire-top," 

"He  sweared  at  a  lady  and  I  punked  him,'" 

Carriers, 

Carriers,     ........ 

First  sale  of  the  day,         ..... 

Lining  up  ready  to  go  to  church, 

The  tough  from  market  space. 

Dividing  the  papers,         ..... 

Two   new   members,         ..... 

"Tenements  on  the  avenue."    In  these  old  buildings 

at  one  time,  lived  seventeen  families, 
"I  will  buy  from  the  little  fellow," 
Waiting   for   the   last   edition, 
"Billy   Butcher,   we   must   have   an   understandin' 

which  corner  ob  de  street  will  you  take?" 
"He  was  fishing  in  the  lake," 
Pastime — the   beginning,  .... 

Pastime — the  finish,  ..... 


Page 

96 
96 
104 
112 
120 
128 
128 
136 
144 
152 
160 
168 

176 
184 
184 

192 
200 

208 
216 


^^  I  F  you  are  going  to  do  anything  permanent 
I  for  the  average  man  you  have  got  to  begin 
before  he  is  a  man.  The  chance  of  suc- 
cess lies  in  working  with  the  boy  and  not  with 
the  man.  That  applies  peculiarly  to  those  boys 
who  tend  to  drift  off  into  courses  which  mean 
that  unless  they  are  checked  they  will  be  for- 
midable additions  to  the  criminal  population 
when  they  grow  older. 

"No  Nation  is  safe  unless  in  the  average 
family  there  are  healthy,  happy  children. 

"If  these  children  are  not  brought  up  well 
they  are  not  merely  a  curse  to  themselves  and 
their  parents,  but  they  niean  the  ri4in  of  the 
State  in  the  future?'' 

President  Theodore  Roosevelt. 


TART    FIRST 


CHAPTilR  l 

On  the  corner  of  one  of  the  principal  thor- 
oughfares, in  a  very  large  city,  there  was  located, 
fifteen  years  ago,  a  small  grocery  store.  In  front 
of  the  building  the  enterprising  owner  displayed 
fruits,  vegetables  and  other  goods;  articles  that 
were  particularly  tempting  to  boys. 

In  a  near-by  cottage  there  lived  a  very  bright 
boy,  twelve  years  of  age,  and  familiarly  known 
to  every  one  in  the  neighborhood,  as  Jimmy,  the 
newsboy.    And  that  meant  a  bad  boy. 

On  the  disappearance  of  an  occasional  apple, 
an  orange,  or  if  one  of  the  fruit-stands  was  upset, 
it  was  declared  that  Jimmy  did  it.  All  fights 
around  the  corner  originated  from  Jimmy. 

So  bad  was  this  boy's  reputation  that  every 
one  in  the  ward,  including  several  Sunday-school 
teachers,  was  kept  busy  looking  for  a  favorable 
opportunity  to  give  Jimmy,  what  they  thought  he 
deserved,  "a  good  licking." 

The  groceryman  was  not  slow  in  letting  his 
customers  know  how  bad  Jimmy  was. 

He  was  kicked,  lectured,  preached  to,  and  a 
dozen  times  a  day  was  pushed  off  the  corner. 


4  BOYVILLE. 

He  was  abused  because  he  annoyed  men  and 
women  by  his  misbehavior. 

No  one  ever  stopped  to  ask  this  boy  where  he 
Hved ;  what  about  his  parents,  his  home  hf e,  or  to 
see  if  there  was  really  any  good  in  him  worth  try- 
^  ing  to  develop.  The  bad  was  visible,  and  the 
people  seemed  to  delight  in  their  vain  efforts  to 
correct  him  by  censures  and  kicks. 

There  was  no  question  about  Jimmy  being 
bad,  about  as  bad  as  any  street-boy  would  become 
who  had  his  own  way,  and,  whose  parents  permit- 
ted him  to  go  and  come  when  he  pleased,  and  to 
associate  with  bad  company,  particularly  boys 
older  than  he  was. 

Jimmy  was  a  leader  of  a  gang  of  little  toughs 
who  always  met  at  the  cr  .ner,  in  the  evenings, 
and  delighted  in  making  it  unpleasant  for  those 
who  lived  within  hen-  iiig  distance.  He  was 
strong,  quick,  and  c(  uid  throw  to  the  ground  any 
boy  of  his  size,  and  never  hesitated  trying  a 
much  larger  boy.  He  was  the  terror  of  the  cor- 
ners. 

Yet  with  all  his  bad  reputation,  no  one  ever 
caught  hijn  doing  anything  for  which  he  could 
be  punished  under  the  state  laws. 


BOYVILLE.  5 

Circumstantial  evidence  was  all  the  grocery- 
man  could  produce  at  any  time  he  was  accused. 
The  boy  who  "squealed"  to  the  groceryman  about 
Jimmy  had  to  remain  away  from  the  corner  un- 
til he  thought  that  Jimmy  had  forgotten  it. 

Jimmy  was  a  typical  newsboy. 

He  was  not  happy  in  fine  clothes.  He  did  not 
use  the  many  slang  phrases  which  so  frequently 
become  a  part  of  a  street-boy's  life  and  enjoy- 
m^ent,  but  he  had  everything  else. 

He  had  a  small  route,  perhaps  thirty  custom- 
ers, for  morning  and  evening  papers,  and  when 
he  had  delivered  his  papers,  he  would  hasten 
down  town,  get  a  new  supply  of  the  latest  edi- 
tions, and  join  the  boys  in  selling  on  the  streets. 

He  was  an  early  riser,  like  all  carriers,  and 
long  before  the  neighbors  thought  of  getting  up 
he  was  out  on  the  street,  and  in  all  kinds  of 
weather. 

The  station  agent  from  whom  he  procured 
his  morning  papers  said:  "There  is  not  a  more 
faithful  boy  in  the  cit}^  from  a  business  view. 
But  he  has  to  be  served  first.  He  has  a  way  of 
his  own  in  pushing  ahead  of  the  crowd  and  is  al- 
ways among  the  first  on  his  route.  He  pays  cash 
for  what  he  gets,  but  still,  he  is  a  bad  boy." 


6  BOYVILLE. 

A  gentleman  who  lived  in  the  neighborhood, 
and  frequently  called  at  the  grocery  store,  be- 
came interested  in  Jimmy.  There  was  something 
naturally  attractive  about  the  boy.  There  was 
a  twinkle  of  his  black  eyes  that  was  really  fas- 
cinating. 

"I  would  like  to  see  what  is  back  of  that  ac- 
tivity," said  the  gentleman,  one  day  to  the  gro- 
ceryman. 

One  afternoon,  late  in  the  fall,  the  gentleman 
was  standing  on  the  corner  waiting  for  a  car 
when  the  groceryman  called  him. 

"You  said  you  would  like  to  see  what  Jimmy, 
the  newsboy,  was  made  of.  He  is  up  to  some 
mischief  now.  He  just  bought  a  sack  of  hickory- 
nuts,  and  I'll  bet  a  cooky  he  is  making  some  one 
unhappy." 

Two  blocks  away  was  a  large  lot,  with  a  high 
fence  around  it.  Scattered  about  the  lot  were  a 
dozen  or  more  hickory  trees.  The  gentleman  saw 
Jimmy  climb  the  fence,  walk  to  the  farther  side 
of  the  lot,  and  when  under  a  heavy  foliaged  tree 
he  stood  for  some  moments  looking  in  every  direc- 
tion. Finally  he  began  to  scatter  hickory-nuts 
under  the  tree.     Very  carefully  seeing  that  they 


BOYVILLE.  7 

were  dropped  all  around  this  particular  tree. 
Sometimes  he  would  take  a  handful  of  leaves  and 
cover  over  a  lot  of  nuts.  To  the  gentleman  this 
was  an  unusual  transaction,  so  he  walked  around 
to  the  big  gate  and  followed  a  path  across  the 
heavy  grass,  and  went  to  Jimmy. 

"I  have  a  curiosity  to  know  what  you  are 
doing,"  said  the  gentleman,  "and  if  you  have  no 
objections  I  would  like  to  have  you  tell  me." 

Jimmy  took  him  by  the  hand,  that  he  might 
hasten  towards  the  sidewalk,  and  when  away 
from  the  tree,  he  said. 

"You  see,  mister,  termorrow  is  Saturday. 
There's  no  school.  Across  the  street  lives  a  whole 
lot  of  little  boys  and  girls,  and  some  of  the  boys 
don't  like  me  very  well,  but  that  doesn't  cut  any 
figure  with  me.  They  comes  over  here  every  day 
after  school  and  particularly  on  Saturday  and 
hunt  for  hickory-nuts;  but  these  old  trees  don't 
bear  any  more;  they's  dead.  But  that  one  over 
there,  with  the  leaves,  sometimes  has  hickory- 
nuts,  but  this  year  nary  a  nut  is  on  the  old  tree. 
So  I  bought  these  here  nuts  an'  scattered  'em  all 
around  the  ground,  an'  termorrow  I'll  sneak 
around  the  fence  and  watch  the  girls  an'  boys 
gather  them.    Won't  they  be  happy?" 


8  BOYVILLE. 

"I  should  think  they  would,"  replied  the  man. 

"They  are  real  hickory-nuts,  too,"  added 
Jimmy,  *T  blowed  in  fifteen  cents  at  our  grocery 
store.  If  you  want  to  you  may  come  termorrow 
an'  I  will  guarantee  you  will  see  the  happiest 
bunch  ever  gathered  under  a  hickory-nut  tree. 
Will  you  come?" 

"Well,  I  should  be  delighted  to  come;  and  I 
will  be  there  before  you  will,"  replied  the  gentle- 
man kindly. 

"You  see,"  said  Jimmy,  "I  cannot  come  un- 
til I  deliver  all  my  papers,  an'  that'll  be  about 
eight  o'clock.  If  you  get  there  before  I  do,  don't 
you  ever  tell  who  put  the  nuts  under  the  tree,  v/ill 
you?" 

"I  promise  you,  Jimmy,  I  will  not  only  keep 
it  to  myself,  but  I  will  not  even  go  on  the  lot,  until 
you  come." 

A  few  words  about  Jimmy  and  his  home,  and 
they  parted  as  friends. 

"Under  the  hickory-nut  tree  termorrow 
there'll  be  a  dozen  happy  girls  an'  boys,  an'  some 
of  the  boys  don't  like  me,"  rang  in  the  ears  of  the 
gentleman  all  during  the  evening  and  frequently 
in  the  night. 

What  a  sermon,  sowing  and  reaping. 


I    AM    SCATTERING    HICKORY-NUTS    UNDER    THIS   OLD    TREE 
FOR    THE    CHILDREN    TO    FIND    TERMORROW." 

See  Page  7 


CHAPTER  11. 

Saturday  morning  was  an  ideal  autumn  day; 
a  day  children  delighted  to  go  into  the  woods 
after  hickory-nuts. 

A  few  moments  before  eight  o'clock  the  gen- 
tlem.an  was  slowly  walking  around  the  great  lot 
when  he  saw  Jimmy  running  at  full  speed  down 
the  street  towards  him. 

Under  the  great  trees  were  a  dozen  little  boys 
and  girls,  and  the  air  was  filled  with  their  merry 
laughter  as  the}^  excitedly  gathered  into  their  bas- 
kets the  hickory-nuts  that  Jimmy  had  so  kindly 
dropped  for  their  pleasure  and  happiness. 

"They  tell  me,  Jimmy,  you're  a  bad  boy,"  said 
the  gentleman  as  they  sat  on  a  stump  of  a  tree,  in 
sight  of  the  children. 

Jimmy  made  no  reply. 

"Well,  I  don't  care  what  any  one  says,"  added 
the  gentleman,  "I  don't  believe  it.  Your  little 
act  with  the  hickory-nuts  has  taught  me  a  lesson 
I  never  learned  in  books.  No  boy  would  do  that 
unless  he  has  some  good  qualities  in  him.  I  feel 
honored  to  have  this  privilege  of  seeing  those  chil- 
dren so  happy  this  morning,  and  to  think  who  did 
all  this.     Jimmy,"  and  he  took  his  little  hand  in 


10  BOYVILLE. 

his,  "I  want  you  to  make  me  a  promise — I  want 
you  always  to  be  my  friend.    What  do  you  say?" 

This  was  something  Jimmy  never  heard  of 
before.  He  was  accustomed  to  being-  kicked,  and 
censured,  and  for  a  man  to  ask  him  to  be  a  friend 
was,  what  he  afterwards  called,  "a  new  deal." 

"Sure  thing,  I  will,"  he  said  frankly. 

"Now  I  want  you  to  come  down  to  my  ofBce, 
Monday  after  school,  and  we  will  talk  over  some- 
thing that  I  want  you  to  do  for  me." 

"I'll  be  there,"  replied  Jimmy,  and  after  a 
moments  thought  he  asked. 

"And  can  I  bring  some  of  my  friends  with 
me?" 

"Certainly,  that  is  exactly  what  I  want  you 
to  do.  Bring  your  gang,  all  your  friends,  par- 
ticularly the  little  toughs,  and  when  you  come  in- 
to my  office  don't  let  any  one  stop  you  from  see- 
ing me." 

"Oh,  don't  be  afeared  o'that,  we  knows  as 
how  to  get  there." 

A  few  other  things  were  talked  about  and 
they  separated  for  the  day. 

As  the  gentleman  rode  down  town  he  thought 
of  the  events  of  the  morning,  of  the  life  of  a  news- 
boy.   These  little  wiry,  nervous  street  boys,  alert 


BOYVILLE.  II 

of  eye,  and  lithe  of  limb,  who  flock  the  principal 
thoroughfares  of  our  great  cities  at  almost  all 
hours  of  the  day. 

Newsboys  and  bootblacks,  boys  whom  the 
world  seems  to  have  forgotten.  By  peculiar  con- 
ditions these  boys  are  used  to  being  at  odds  with 
the  world.  It  need  not  be  told  that  our  newsboys, 
as  a  general  rule,  as  people  know  them,  are  re- 
garded as  a  swearing,  stealing,  lying,  dishonest 
lot  of  young  criminals,  and  these  qualifications 
are  recognized  adjuncts  to  their  business.  With 
these  conditions  is  it  not  a  wonder  that  any  of 
them  ever  succeed  in  working  their  way  into  the 
ranks  of  respectibility  ?  People  who  curse  and 
kick  them,  as  they  did  Jimmy,  never  stop  to  think 
that  these  neglected  newsboys,  of  today,  sharp, 
shrewd  and  keen,  may  be  the  thieves,  the  burg- 
lars, the  highwaymen ;  or  the  successful  patriotic 
citizens  of  tomorrow. 

No  one  will  dispute  the  fact  that,  the  street- 
boy  is  surrounded  on  every  hand  by  degraded  and 
vicious  men,  with  drunkenness  regarded  as  a 
desirable  condition,  and  the  indulgence  in  drink 
only  limited  by  the  ability  to  procure  it. 

Among  many,  robbery  is  regarded  as  a  fine 
art,  and  the  tribute  of  praise  bestowed  upon  ras- 


12  BOYVILLE. 

cality.  If  christian  people  do  not  find  time,  amid 
the  rush  and  roar  of  the  city,  in  their  mighty 
struggle  for  wealth,  to  lend  a  hand  to  lead  him 
out  on  the  highway  of  honest  success,  what  is  to 
become  of  the  street-boy? 

Is  it  not  true  that  many  a  boy  is  bad  because 
the  best  part  of  him  was  never  developed? 

It  is  not  that  a  newsboy  is  so  much  worse  than 
other  boys,  but  simply  that  the  other  half  of  him 
didn't  get  a  chance. 

If  you,  dear  reader,  will  take  time  to  get  into 
the  real  life  of  a  boy,  as  the  gentleman  did  with 
Jimmy,  you  will  be  surprised,  as  he  was,  at  what 
you  v/ill  discover.  How  quick  he  is  to  see  an  oppor- 
tunity to  do  something  bad,  and  when  discovered, 
his  conscience  brings  the  blush  of  shame  to  his 
cheeks.  Take  boys  like  Jimmy,  the  leader  of  a 
gang  of  toughs,  his  acts  on  the  public  highway, 
his  language,  his  ragged  clothes  all  indicating  ne- 
glect and  evil  designs,  yet  get  his  friendship,  his 
confidence,  and  he  will  prove,  as  did  Jimmy,  the 
best  and  most  faithful  friend  you  ever  had,  not 
only  in  his  youth,  in  his  teens,  but  long  after  you 
have  forgotten  him. 

No  matter  how  bad  the  boy  is,  how  miserable 
his  environment,  that  great  spark  of  good,  that 


•     BOYVILLE.  i^ 

something",  no  one  can  explain  its  power,  its  in- 
fluence, is  still  there.  To  get  into  touch  with  that 
life,  to  draw  out  the  goodness  of  heart  and  make 
it  a  tangible  blessing  to  the  boys  of  our  land,  is 
the  work  every  man  and  woman  ought  to  try  to 
do.  It  was  this  object  the  gentleman  had  in  ask- 
ing Jimmy  and  his  friends  to  meet  at  his  office. 
He  felt  that  opportunities  of  this  nature  come  but 
once  in  a  life  time. 

George  Eliot  wrote:  "The  golden  moments 
in  the  stream  of  life  rush  past  us  and  we  see  noth- 
ing but  sand.  The  angels  come  to  visit  us  and 
we  only  know  them  when  they  are  gone.  How 
shall  we  live  so  as  at  the  end  to  have  done  the 
mxOSt  for  others  and  make  the  most  of  ourselves." 
We  become  good  ourselves  only  in  the  measure 
that  we  do  good  to  some  other  soul.  In  Jimmy, 
the  newsboy,  no  one  stopped  to  see  what  was 
sleeping  under  the  cover  of  extreme  mischiev- 
ousness.  They  were  always  looking  for  bad  and 
they  found  it.  Neglect  is  the  mother  of  more  cal- 
amities than  any  other  sin,  and  who  are  ne- 
glected more  than  the  newsboys? 


CHAPTER  III. 

On  the  following  Monday  morning,  at  the 
appointed  hour,  Jimmy,  with  eight  other  boys, 
was  at  the  office  of  his  newly-made  friend. 

It  was  an  interesting  picture,  an  exciting 
scene. 

Noisy,  loud  talking,  several  answering  ques- 
tions at  the  same  time,  some  turning  over  books, 
papers,  investigating  everything  in  sight.  Sharp, 
schrewd,  busy  at  every  moment,  quick  to  an- 
swer any  question  and  the  replies  always  sat- 
isfactory, and  to  the  point. 

■'Don't  you  know  anything,"  said  Jimmy  to 
a  friend,  who  was  trying  to  investigate  how  a 
typewriter  was  made,  "let  that  meechine  alone." 

It  was  soon  in  evidence  that  Jimmy's  word 
meant  something,  for  each  boy  obeyed  him  with- 
out saying  a  word,  except  a  little  grunt  of  dis- 
satisfaction, to  show  he  hated  to  obey.  Not  one 
of  the  eight  boys  had  clean  hands.  Not  one  a 
coat  with  a  button.  Three  safety-pins  held  hold- 
ing positions  in  some  of  their  coats.  Not  one  used 
a  handkerchief,  and  the  slang  would  puzzle  many 
a  lawyer. 


BOYVILLE.  15 

As  one  of  the  boys  lost  his  cap  he  said :  "Some 
kid  five-fingered  it. — took  it  with  his  hand."  It 
was  an  interesting  crowd. 

"Well,  you  are  on  time,  Jimmy,  and  I  see  you 
have  brought  some  of  your  friends  with  you," 
said  the  gentleman. 

"These  is  part  of  de  gang,"  said  Jimmy. 

"Do  you  boys  all  want  to  be  my  friends,  just 
the  same  as  Jimmy  is?" 

They  replied,  "Sure  thing;  cert.  Yes'm." 

These  friendly  words  brought  the  gang  closer 
to  the  gentleman's  desk.  And  more  papers  were 
disturbed.  The  ink  was  investigated  and  one  of 
the  boys  wanted  to  know  why  it  wasn't  red  ink. 
Another  poked  his  finger  in  the  ink  stand  and 
made  black  streaks  down  the  smallest  boy's  face. 
The  gentleman  was  shown  quite  a  number  of 
articles  they  had  in  their  pockets.  Nails,  buttons, 
marbles,  pieces  of  slate-pencils,  etc.,  all  of  which 
had  to  be  admired. 

"Say,  you,  mister,"  said  a  nine-year-old  dirty- 
faced,  bright-eyed  boy,  "I  had  trouble  gittin'  here. 
De  con.  wus  onto  me  an'  I  had  to  take  two  lines 
'fore  I  rode  into  de  office  wid  out  blowin'  in  a 
cent." 


i6  BOYVILLE. 

"Well,  quit  your  wasting  words,"  said  Jimmy. 

The  boys  gathered  around  the  gentleman,  and 
he  said: 

"My!  what  good  you  boys  can  do  in  this  world 
with  all  of  your  push,  and  energy,  your  hustling, 
your  good  health,  you  boys  can  turn  up  some- 
thing, and  I'm  going  to  help  you  do  it.  How 
would  you  like  to  help  me  make  all  the  men  and 
women  who  buy  papers  of  you  learn  to  love  you. 
Learn  to  speak  kindly  to  you?" 

"Aw,  de  peoples  don't  care  fur  us."  said  a  boy 
Jimmy  called  "Indian." 

"Well,  I  don't  know  about  that.  There  is  one 
thing  certain  there  can  be  no  harm  in  trying. 
The  trouble  is,  people  don't  know  you,  and  you 
won't  let  them  get  acquainted  with  you.  Let's 
make  a  start.  First,  I  want  to  know  if  every  one 
of  you  wants  to  be  a  friend  of  mine?  You  do, 
that's  a  good  start.  And  whenever  you  see  me 
on  the  street,  it  doesn't  make  any  difference  what 
I  am  doing,  or  who  I  am  talking  to,  will  you  come 
to  me  and  say,  good  morning  or  good  evening?" 
They  all  agreed. 

"And  another  thing,  when  you  boys  are  down 
town  and  should  you  hurt  yourself,  or  get  into 
some  trouble,  lose  your  papers,  your  money,  or 


THE    ORIGINAL    CHARTER    MEMBERS. 


See  Paee  14 


BOYVILLE.  17 

some  one  frightens  you,  I  want  you  to  call  on  me, 
and  I  will  try  to  help  you.  Notice,  I  say  when 
you  are  in  trouble,  because  when  you  are  doing 
well  and  everything  comes  your  way,  you  need  no 
assistance.  You  can  take  care  of  yourselves. 
What  do  you  say,  boys,  to  this  ?" 

They  all  promised  and  were  glad  of  the  oppor- 
tunity. 

This  was  the  first  intimate  talk  with  the  gang. 

Two  days  later,  while  the  gentleman  was  very 
busy  in  his  office,  into  the  room  came  one  of  the 
little  visitors  followed  by  some  of  the  gang,  he 
was  limping  and  crying  as  if  his  heart  would 
break.  He  paid  no  attention  to  any  one  in  the 
office  but  made  directly  for  the  gentleman,  who 
seeing  him,  excused  himself  from  his  business 
friends  and  said  to  the  boy, 

"Well,  now,  what  has  happened  to  you?" 

"A  man  shoved  me  off  de  sidewalk  into  de 
gutter  and  me  foot  struck  a  piece  of  glass,"  he  re- 
plied, between  sobs.  His  foot  was  bloody,  and 
the  more  blood  he  saw  the  louder  became  his 
cries.  He  was  taken  into  a  near-by  hotel,  his 
foot  carefully  washed,  a  handkerchief  tied  over 
the  wound,  his  tears  wiped  away,  and  when  back 
into  the  office  he  said: 


i8  BOYVILLE. 

"I  thank  you,  sir." 

He  picked  up  his  bundle  of  papers,  all  pain 
had  disappeared,  the  smiles  again  came  to  his 
pretty  face,  and  with  his  friends,  left  the  office, 
singing  a  popular  air. 

The  result  of  this  little  act  of  duty  added  fifty 
new  friends. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

A  week  later,  a  little  colored  boy  entered  the 
office  crying.  He  was  known  on  the  street  as 
Midnight. 

"Tree  boys  trowed  me  down  in  de  alley,  an' 
swiped  me  papers." 

Four  boys  came  with  him.  They  wondered 
what  would  be  done.  While  talking  with  him, 
Jimmy  dropped  in.  Not  quietly  but  made  every- 
body get  out  of  the  way. 

"I  know  the  three  kids,"  said  Jimmy,  "and 
I'll  go  after  them." 

So  Jimmy  left  on  his  own  accord.  In  fifteen 
minutes  he  returned  bringing  two  boys. 

"There,  you  kids,"  he  said,  "give  Midnight 
back  his  money  fur  de  papers  you  stole." 

It  was  done.  Midnight's  eyes  resumed  their 
natural  brightness,  and  he  left  happy,  thankful 
to  Jimmy  for  his  interest. 

To  the  gentleman  this  was  a  revelation.  The 
power  one  boy  can  have  over  a  gang  of  boys 
ought  to  be  used  for  good.  Such  vital  energy, 
such  quick  action,  such  nerve  and  endurance,  all 
this  must  be  used  for  doing  good,  for  helping  each 


20  BOYVILLE. 

other.  My !  what  a  boy  who  has  influence  among 
his  fellow  companions,  can  do.  If  each  boy  could 
be  placed  on  his  honor,  each  boy  aiming  to  do  the 
best  he  can  to  uplift  his  associate,  trying  to  cor- 
rect the  little  evils  from  which  spring  so  many 
crimes,  how  much  happiness,  how  many  useful 
lives  would  result.  If  men  would  try  to  instill 
into  the  young  hearts  of  our  boys,  our  newsboys, 
because  they  are  tempted  more  than  any  other 
class,  a  spirit  of  trust  and  love,  instead  of  a  spirit 
of  fear  and  hate  and  revenge,  what  a  happy  un- 
selfish w^orld  we  would  have.  Suppose  these 
newsboys,  the  boys  who  are  so  often  accused  of 
being  bad,  would  be  treated  as  Christ  treated 
wrong-doers,  not  as  criminals,  but  as  misdirected 
and  misguided  boys,  putting  everything  in  their 
way  to  encourage  them  to  do  right.  Suppose 
they  were  warned  of  danger,  were  propped  up 
when  about  to  fall,  and  personal  efforts  were 
made  to  find  the  good  in  each  boy  and  to  cultivate 
it  as  a  husbandman  would  his  garden — pulling 
out  and  destroying  the  weeds,  removing  the 
germs  of  disorder,  and  keeping  a  watchfull  eye 
over  all  even  until  the  ripening  of  the  fruit. 
What  would  be  the  result  ?    The  gentleman  gave 


BOYVILLE.  21 

the  subject  considerable  thought  and  concluded 
to  try  the  experiment. 

From  the  material  at  command  it  was  sur- 
prising how  many  little  good  things  sprung  up 
where  least  expected  and  from  soil  considered  as 
absolutely  worthless.  Like  some  products  of  the 
garden,  good  came  from  unexpected  places. 

Taking  advantage  of  conditions  and  cir- 
cumstances, the  number  of  friends  increased  so 
rapidly  that  when  cold  weather  set  in,  over  a 
hundred  little  hustling  friends  of  the  street  were 
added  to  the  list. 

Winter  came  with  snow  and  ice  and  cold 
winds,  making  it  hard  for  the  carriers  to  deliver 
their  papers  before  the  breakfast  hour.  The  little 
sellers  were  heard  only  a  short  time  after  the 
newspaper  editions  were  out,  and  they  were  com- 
pelled to  seek  warm  places.  It  was  noticeable 
that  the  saloons  of  the  city  were  the  only  places 
open  to  these  boys  seeking  shelter  and  warmth. 

There  were  several  gentlemen  in  the  city 
heartily  in  sympathy  with  the  new  movement 
among  the  newsboys,  and  among  them  was  a  gen- 
erous clothier  who  presented,  through  the  gentle- 
man, fifty  overcoats  to  be  given  to  the  poorest 
newsboys. 


22  BOYVILLE. 

To  select  fifty  of  the  most  deserving,  for  the 
entire  hundred  were  in  want,  was  a  very  difficult 
task,  especially  as  those  interested  had  but  little 
experience  with  boys  of  the  street. 

But  Jimmy  came  to  the  rescue  and  he  and  the 
gentleman  began  to  deliver  the  coats.  When 
forty-five  coats  were  given  there  remained  twenty 
boys  who  w^ere  equally  as  needy  as  the  others  and 
there  were  but  five  coats  left.  How  to  select  five 
boys  from  this  number  was  the  question. 

Jimmy  accomplished  it. 

The  next  day  the  gentleman  was  asked  to  go 
into  the  alley  in  the  rear  of  the  post-office  where 
he  met  about  sixty  boys.  Twenty  of  the  poorest, 
those  whose  names  were  booked  for  coats,  were 
asked  to  "stand  in  line  against  the  building." 
Jimmy  asked  them  to  name  five  of  their  number 
who  were  very  poor. 

"You  see,  Kids,"  said  Jimmy,  "we  have  only 
fi\e  coats  and  if  you  select  the  fi\'e  boys  needing 
ihem  it  is  all  right." 

The  boys  quickly  named  the  lucky  sellers. 

Midnight,  Peanuts,  Bluster,  Swipsey  and 
Bundle  were  unanimously  chosen  and  the  orders 
were  given  to  them. 


BOYVILLE.  2^ 

This  was  a  great  surprise  to  the  g-entleman, 
for  what  he  had  imagined  would  be  a  difficult 
problem  was  satisfactorily  settled  in  a  very  few 
moments  by  the  boys. 

"Boys,  come  close  to  me,"  said  the  gentleman. 
It  was  difficult  for  him  to  stand  as  they  crowded 
so  closely  around  him. 

"I  am  surprised  at  your  way  of  doing  busi- 
ness. This  is  one  of  the  greatest  things  I  ever 
saw.  It  shows  you  boys  can  take  care  of  your- 
selves and  I  believe  you  could  manage  worse 
things  than  dividing  up  a  lot  of  coats.  For  this 
nice  little  act  of  yours  I  am  going-  to  give  you  a 
first-class  Christmas  dinner — " 

Not  another  word  could  be  heard.  That 
quiet,  listening  bunch  of  boys  was  quickly 
changed  to  a  turbulent,  noisy  crowd. 

Several  policeman  came  into  the  alley  to  see 
the  cause  of  the  noise.  It  wasn't  common  every- 
day cheering,  but  yelling.  The  invitation  was  ac- 
cepted— it  seemed  by  a  thousand  voices. 

"All  right,  boys,  get  your  little  friends  and 
meet  me  at  the  post-office  steps  Christmas  morn- 
ing at  eleven  o'clock." 

"Say,  Mister,"  said  Swipsey,  a  bootblack," 
only  sellers  and  bootblacks  in  this  deal?" 


24  BOYVILLE. 

**Yes,  only  sellers  and  bootblacks  this  time, 
and  I  don't  want  a  good  boy  in  the  crowd.  I 
want  only  boys  who  are  bad.  I  want  all  the  gang 
and  their  friends.  I  want  poor  boys,  but  they 
must  all  be  newsboys.  That  is,  they  must  sell 
papers  or  shine  shoes,  and  not  a  boy  must  come 
in  dress  suit." 


(.    /    Ac 


A^^M^ 


CHAPTER  V. 

Christmas  morning  came  without  a  cloud  in 
sight.  The  sun  was  warm.  It  was  an  ideal 
Christmas  day.  The  boys  were  to  meet  at  eleven 
o'clock,  but  fifty  newsies  were  playing  around  the 
corners  of  the  post-office  as  early  as  seven  o'clock 
and  at  ten  o'clock  they  came  in  groups  of  five  and 
ten  from  every  direction.  When  the  gentleman 
appeared  he  was  considerably  embarrassed  at  the 
noisy  reception.  The  boys  formed  in  line  by  twos 
and  as  the  hundred  and  fifty  marched  down  the 
street  yelling  at  the  tops  of  their  voices  the  good 
people  of  the  city  stood  on  the  sidewalks  wonder- 
ing what  had  broken  loose.  The  boys  when  neftr 
their  destination,  arriving  at  the  top  of  a  hill, 
without  warning  made  a  break  for  the  bottom, 
like  a  flock  of  sheep  scattering  down  a  hill.  They 
ran  screaming  as  only  boys  can.  At  the  door  of 
the  building,  where  they  were  to  have  their 
Christmas  dinner,  they  were  met  by  six  police- 
men, who  held  them  at  bay,  requiring  them  to  go 
up  stairs  single  file. 

The  tables  presented  a  sight  that  even  grown 
people  considered,  "one  of  the  most  attractive  lay- 
outs ever  seen  in  the  city." 


26  BOYVILLE. 

Flowers,  fruit  of  all  kinds,  with  "a  mountain 
of  turkey"  and  candy  "to  burn,"  greeted  the  boys. 
In  just  five  minutes  after  the  newsies  were  seated 
there  was  not  an  orange,  an  apple,  a  banana  or 
a  piece  of  candy  in  sight.  All  disappeared  as  if 
by  magic.  Ice  cream  and  pie  were  first  to  re- 
ceive attention!.  Turkey  and  chicken  were  later 
in  demand.  In  half  an  hour  the  tables  were 
cleared  of  everything  that  looked  good  to  eat. 
Not  only  were  the  pockets  of  the  boys  filled  with 
oranges  and  apples  but  their  shirt-waists  and 
pant-legs  were  bulged  out  with  the  things  that 
pleased  them  most.  Only  six  fights  were  re- 
corded worthy  of  notice. 

An  entertainment  followed  the  dinner.  It  was 
the  kind  and  character  they  could  understand  and 
appreciate.  Interesting  and  earnest  talks  by 
n-ewspaper  representatives,  were  sandwiched  be- 
tween acts.  The  object  of  the  gathering  was  well 
defined  by  the  members  of  the  press.  Their  gen- 
tleman friend  wanted  the  sellers  and  bootblacks 
to  start  a  Newsboys'  Association.  This  was  re- 
ceived with  the  usual  noisy  approval.  He  wanted 
an  association  which  the  boys  themselves  would 
run;  make  their  own  laws,  elect  from  their  own 
numbers  the  officers,  and  everything  connected 


BOYVILLE.  27 

with  the  running  of  the  association  to  be  under 
their  supervision.  On  that  Christmas  day  one 
hundred  and  two  boys  were  enrolled  in  the  new 
association,  and  their  gentleman  friend  elected 
president,  with  Jimmy  as  vice-president. 

The  president  was  requested  "to  get  busy," 
and,  "prepare  rules  an'  such  things  as  we  can 
work  by." 

After  this  meeting,  Jimmy's  friend  was 
known  as  "Mr.  President." 


TART    SECOND 


CHAPTER  VI. 

A  dozen  or  more  newsboys  can  be  seen  at  al- 
most any  hour  of  the  day,  dodging  here  and  there 
around  the  corners,  down  alleys,  or  playing  in  the 
rear  of  the  circulating  offices  of  the  great  dailies. 
In  all  kinds  of  weather  they  will  be  found  at  their 
posts,  prompt  in  delivering  their  papers  to  sub- 
scribers, or  upon  the  streets  crying  the  most  im- 
portant of  the  many  head  lines  of  the  transactions 
of  a  day.  Would  it  be  possible  to  get  this  noisy, 
hustling  crowd  of  boys  together  and  gradually  to 
bring  this  great  power,  this  great  force,  into  a. 
channel  for  doing  good?  To  form  an  association 
where  the  boy  would  be  "de  whole  thing"  with 
only  the  hand  of  man  to  guide  where  it  was 
necessary?  To  simply  push  the  button?  In 
short,  would  it  result  in  doing  good  among  the 
class  of  boys  who  are  neglected  in  more  ways 
than  men  and  women  imagine?  Reflection 
resulted  in  adopting  a  name  that  would  imply 
everything — 

"Boyville." 

It  means  work  with  and  among  newsboys  by 
the  boys  themselves 


^2  BOYVILLE. 

The  Boyville  Newsboys'  Association. 

It  was  at  once  organized,  and  in  its  preamble 
of  incorporation  was  written  the  Golden  Rule. 
In  the  formation  of  Boyville  it  must  not  be  un- 
derstood that  its  mission  was  to  draw  good  boys 
from  good  homes ;  but  rather  to  give  help  to  bad 
boys,  come  from  where  they  may,  when  they  ap- 
pear on  the  streets — away  from  home  influences. 
Whether  they  come  from  the  most  palatial  resi- 
dences on  the  shaded  avenues,  or  from  the 
crowded  hovels  of  alleys,  from  poorly  kept  ten- 
ements, or  even  those  who  are  compelled  to  sleep 
in  public  stairways,  barns,  or  wherever  a  boy  can 
creep  under  shelter  without  being  noticed. 

With  one  hundred  and  fifty-two  newsboys, 
sellers  and  bootblacks,  enrolled  as  active  members 
for  life;  with  an  unwritten  constitution  and  laws 
that  were  made  to  suit  conditions,  and  that  were 
subject  to  change  at  every  meeting;  with  meeting 
places  in  alleys,  in  vacant  store-rooms,  theatres 
or  wherever  boys  could  meet  on  short  notice, 
Boyville  was  started.  Trustees  were  chosen  from 
newspaper  representatives,  and  leading  citizens, 
but  the  detail  work,  the  real  work  among  the 
boys,  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  president — 
to  make  a  success  or  failure  of  the  project.     It 


■;r 


c^-t^- 


J  ftjii  I  \ 


iSiir 


f^-^ 


WHERE    THE    BOVVILLE    NEWSBOYS'    ASSOCIATION    WAS 
ORGANIZED,    DECEMBER    25,    1892. 


See  Page  27 


BOYVILLE.  33 

was  first  found  necessary  that  the  president 
should  keep  in  personal  daily  touch  with  every 
boy,  not  in  bunches  but  each  boy,  sellers  and  boot- 
blacks. A  membership  card  was  issued.  This 
card  simply  let  the  public  know  the  bearer  was  a 
member  of  Boyville,  Newsboys'  Association.  For 
this,  and  all  benefits  of  the  association,  the  boy 
paid  nothing  in  money.  No  assessments  of  any 
kind.  Nothing  that  would  permit  even  a  dona- 
tion. He  was  simply  required  to  obey  the  rules — 
not  to  swear,  to  steal,  to  play  craps,  a  game  so 
common  among  sellers,  or  smoke  cirgarettes. 

There  were  but  three  officers,  the  president, 
vice-president  and  secretary.  The  two  latter, 
newsboys.  Jimmy  the  newsboy,  and  Johnny  the 
bootblack,  both  leaders  of  gangs.  These  two  boys 
were  told  that  the  success  of  the  association  de- 
pended entirely  on  their  work.  They  had  charge 
of  the  one  hundred  and  fifty-two  members.  Their 
first  orders  were :  "that  each  boy  must  watch  the 
other  boys  and  correct  a  fellow  member  for  doing 
anything  that  would  disgrace  the  association. 
They  must  not  wait  to  see  an  officer  to  punish  a 
member  for  stealing,  swearing  or  playin'  o'craps. 
They  must  not  depend  on  what  they  heard,  but 


34  BOYVILLE. 

on  what  they  saw.    Take  the  law  into  their  own 
hands,  and  punish  on  the  spot." 

The  end  of  the  first  month  found  twenty- 
eight  membership  cards  taken  from  boys  who  had 
violated  the  rule,  ''you  must  not  steal,"  and  nine 
taken  from  boys  who  smoked  cigarettes.  The 
fines  were  from  five  to  fifteen  days.  When  the 
fines  numbered  fifty  membership  cards,  the  presi- 
dent made  arrangements  with  a  theatre  to  admit 
the  members,  permiting  no  boy  to  enter  unless  he 
showed  his  membership  card.  The  boys  who 
were  fined,  and  did  not  have  their  cards,  were 
dealt  a  pretty  heavy  blow,  for  boys.  A  little  ban- 
quet was  given  and  again  no  boy  admitted  to  the 
hall  without  showing  his  card.  This  occasional 
hit  had  its  efifect  in  reducing  the  cards  in  the 
hands  of  the  president  to  an  average  of  about  ten 
a  month. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

The  membership  increased  so  rapidly  and  the 
detail  work  became  so  extended,  that  it  was  found 
necessary  to  increase  the  number  of  officers,  from 
two  boys  to  eleven.  The  constitution  and  by-laws 
provided  a  Central  Association,  which  was  offi- 
cered by  boys  who  had  experience  upon  the 
streets,  as  sellers  and  carriers.  The  vice-presi- 
dent gradually  became  familiar  with  the  objects 
of  the  association,  and  the  work  among  the  boys. 
He  was  a  typical  newsboy,  a  good  street-seller 
and  his  power  was  felt  among  the  boys,  especi- 
ally those  who  were  inclined  to  be  bad.  A  secre- 
tary was  elected  from  the  ranks  of  the  carriers. 
He  was  a  good  worker.  The  treasurer  was  a 
boy  who  received  the  unanimous  vote  of  the  as- 
sociation. The  money  he  received  was  small  do- 
nations, from  benevolently-inclined  friends.  This 
was  used  for  purchasing  flowers  for  sick  boys, 
etc.  The  real  work  of  the  association  depended  up- 
on the  executive  committee  of  five  members.  Like 
most  organizations,  the  committee-work  centered 
in  the  chairman.  The  chairman  of  this  commit- 
tee proved  to  be  one  of  the  most  active  and  faith- 


^6  BOYVILLE. 

ful  boys  of  the  association.  He  left  nothing  un- 
done in  his  efforts  to  unravel  a  difficulty  or  in  cor- 
recting and  building  up  a  boy  who  had  done 
wrong.  The  four  boys  on  his  committee  were  un- 
tiring in  their  efforts  for  the  success  of  the  as- 
sociation. This  committee  was  in  constant  touch 
with  the  president. 

The  membership  committee  of  three  boys 
looked  after  old  as  well  as  new  members.  Each 
applicant  had  to  be  submitted  to  them  for  ap- 
proval. 

With  these  eleven  ojfffcers,  all  boys  under  four- 
teen, the  association  began  life.  The  constitution 
and  by-laws  embraced  in  its  power  and  force  sim- 
ply one  aim,  one  object,  to  do  good  among  the 
boys.  To  do  it  effectively,  and  make  the  results 
lasting.  To  build  up,  never  pull  down;  to  en- 
courage honesty,  to  watch  and  warn  a  boy  .J 

The  work  among  the  street  boys  became  more 
interesting  as  the  months  rolled  on,  and,  at  the 
end  of  a  year  the  membership  of  Bo3rvrille  had  in- 
creased to  two  hundred  and  fifty  sellers  and  boot- 
blacks. This  number  not  only  included  boys  who 
sold  papers  every  day,  but  those  who  sold  extras, 
and  on  Saturdays,  and  special  occasions,  and  boys 
who  sold  magazines  or  other  periodicals.     The 


BOYVILLE.  37 

association  began  to  grow  and  become  recognized 
by  the  boys  generally,  and  new  sellers  appeared 
upon  the  streets  daily,  all  anxious  to  join.  The 
working  officers  remained  the  same — but  two 
boys  doing  the  detail  work. 

Two  years  passed  under  the  new  officers  and 
rules.  The  Boyville  Newsboys'  Association  be- 
gan to  be  felt  in  the  community.  Compliments 
were  frequent  concerning  the  good  work.  The 
association  had  increased  its  membership  to  fif- 
teen hundred  and  twenty  boys.  A  little  army, 
and  all  working  harmoniously  together  for  each 
others  good,  and  in  trying  to  assist  and  build  up 
the  association.  Doubting  men  and  women,  and 
the  world  is  full  of  them,  were  perfectly  satisfied 
of  the  success  of  the  boys  governing  themselves, 
as  was  shown  almost  daily  in  the  work.  The  boys 
solved  a  problem  never  thought  of  being  tried  by 
men  and  women  who  had  long  experience  in 
working  among  boys. 

The  success  of  Boyville  increased  in  propor- 
tion to  the  work  done  by  the  young  officers. 

People  began  to  look  upon  a  newsboy  with 
some  consideration,  and  as  a  necessary  adjunct 
to  the  growth  of  a  city.  His  politeness,  his  hon- 
esty, his  general  deportment  attracted  special  no- 


38  BOYVILLE. 

tice,  and  the  boys  received  many  kind  words  and 
increased  attention. 

The  association  began  to  assume  such  mag- 
nitude that  it  was  found  necessary  to  divide  it 
into  auxiharies,  to  get  a  suitable  badge,  and  a 
membership  card  defining  more  expHcitly  cer- 
tain rules. 

Boyville  was  therefore  divided  into  five  auxil- 
iaries— the  sellers,  north,  south,  east  and  west 
branches,  with  the  constitution  of  the  Central. 
Each  auxiliary  had  eleven  officers,  making  a  total 
of  sixty-six  officers — all  boys.  In  the  annual 
election  of  officers  great  interest  was  taken  by 
the  boys,  many  displaying  political  "wire  pulling" 
qualifications  that  would  equal  the  work  done  by 
great  political  bodies. 

These  sixty-six  officers  were  scattered  in  all 
parts  of  the  city,  making  it  almost  impossible  for 
a  boy  whom  they  wanted  for  violating  a  rule  of 
the  association,  to  escape  their  notice. 

The  membership  card  told  the  story  of  what 
was  expected  of  a  member.  It  is  herewith  given 
for  that  purpose. 


BOYVILLE.  39 


No. 

THIS  IS  TO  CERTIFY  THAT 
is   an  active  member   for  life  of 


The  Boyville  Newsboys'  Association.  He  does  not  ap- 
prove of  swearing,  lying,  stealing,  gambling,  drinking 
intoxicating  liquors,  or  smoking  cigarettes,  and  is  enti- 
tled to  all  the  benefits  of  said  association,  and  the  respect 
and  esteem  of  the  public. 

Signed  by  the  officers. 

'  With  these  rules,  and  simple  pledge,  if  pledge 
it  can  be  called,  in  the  hands  of  each  newsboy, 
the  reader  can  imagine  the  good  that  must  result. 

It  does  not  say  the  holder  is  guilty  of  any  of 
these  evils,  neither  does  it  imply  that  he  must  not 
swear,  etc.,  but  it  does  say,  and  each  boy  is 
strongly  impressed  with  the  fact,  that  he  does  not 
approve  of  these  things,  and  will  not  permit  a 
fellow  member  to  violate  a  single  rule. 

A  boy  who  says  I  do  not  believe  in  swearing, 
while  he  may  swear  himself,  will  take  great  pleas- 
ure in  checking  some  one  else,  and  often  bumps 
up  against  a  strong  proposition  when  he  finds 
some  other  boy,  probably  of  greater  strength, 
watching  him,  and  waiting  anxiously  for  an  op- 
portunity to  correct  him.  If  not  corrected  with 
a  simple  warning  it  may  end  in  a  fight. 


40  BOYVILLE. 

A  boy  makes  an  application  for  membership. 
He  is  recommended  by  a  friend.  He  is  approved 
by  the  membership  committee.  In  case  there  is 
something  wrong  with  the  appHcant,  particularly 
if  he  steals,  or  swears,  or  smokes  cigarettes,  he 
is  sent  with  a  note  to  the  president,  or  as  is  more 
frequently  done,  one  of  the  officers  reports  in 
person  giving  the  president  a  history  of  the  appli- 
cant and  the  failing  he  has. 

The  new  member  knows  nothing  of  this,  in 
fact  he  gives  expression  to  his  thoughts  and  says, 
after  he  receives  his  credentials,  "It's  dead  easy." 
It  is,  as  far  as  the  business  he  has  with  the  presi- 
dent, but  the  moment  he  leaves  the  president's 
office,  the  officers  living  in  his  district  are  notified 
of  the  trouble  this  boy  gives,  or  bad  habit  he  de- 
lights in  keeping  up. 

Even  the  boys  with  whom  he  associates  be- 
come familiar,  through  methods  of  their  own, 
with  his  failings,  and  go  after  him  with  all  the 
authority  of  an  official. 

With  all  the  interest  taken  by  the  boys  to  cor- 
rect a  member  for  violating  one  of  the  rules,  and 
the  severe  methods  adopted  by  them  to  correct  a 
known  evil,  it  is  seldom  a  boy  will  appear  against 
one  of  his  associates  as  a  witness. 


BOYVILLE.  41 

A  gentleman  whose  sympathy  was  with  the 
work,  brought  a  boy  to  the  president  whom  he 
accused  of  using  language,  "unbecoming  a  crim- 
inal." As  witnessses  he  brought  with  him  four 
newsboy  companions. 

Imagine  the  gentleman's  surprise  to  hear  the 
boys  say:  "Mister,  you  're  dreaming  through  a 
pipe.  He  didn't  swear."  The  boys  did  not  even 
show  signs  of  embarrassment  but  faced  the 
charge  with  perfect  ease.  No  argument  could 
get  the  boys  to  testify  against  their  friend. 

The  gentleman  left  disgusted  with  newsboys. 

'T  will  let  you  boys  settle  this  among  your- 
selves," said  the  president. 

They  went  upon  the  street,  into  the  alley. 
Half  an  hour  later  the  newsboy  accused  of  swear- 
ing returned.  Timidly  he  approached  the  presi- 
dent and  said. 

"I  swore  but  I  will  never  do  it  again,  and  I 
mean  it,  I  am  sorry." 

At  the  door  the  president  saw  four  little  faces 
peeping  through  the  window.  They  were  watch- 
ing their  friend. 

"Where  is  your  badge?"  asked  the  president. 

"The  boys  took  it  from  me,  they're  out  there," 
he  replied. 


42  BOYVILLE. 

They  were  beckoned  to  come  in. 

"Did  you  do  the  right  thing?"  one  of  the  boys 
asked  the  accused. 

"Yes,  didn't  I  Mr.  President?"  he  answered, 
looking  for  sympathy. 

"Yes,  boys,  he  is  all  right.  I  understand 
everything,"  said  the  president. 

The  badge  was  returned  to  the  boy  and  they 
left  the  office  talking  and  laughing. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

The  first  public  appearance  of  the  boys,  aside 
from  auxiliary  meetings,  annual  Christmas  din- 
ners, attending  theatres,  entertainments,  base-ball 
games,  picnics,  etc.,  and  where  the  boys  made  a 
favorable  impression  upon  the  public,  was  the 
Sunday  afternoon  meetings  held  in  suitable  halls, 
during  the  winter  season.  These  were  carried  on 
successfully  and  profitably  for  several  years,  un- 
til the  available  halls  were  too  small  to  accommo- 
date the  increasing  membership. 

The  idea  of  Sunday  afternoon  meetings  sug- 
gested itself  from  what  the  boys  said. 

"If  we  had  meetings  of  our  own  we  would  not 
attend  Sunday  afternoon  theatres."  Three  boys, 
newsboys,  were  seen  coming  out  of  the  back  door 
of  a  saloon  on  Sunday  afternoon,  and  to  the  ques- 
tion asked  by  the  president,  why  they  spent  their 
time  in  the  saloon,  they  replied  they  had  no  other 
place  to  go  to  get  warm. 

"Why  not  go  home?" 

"We  are  not  wanted  at  home." 

At  the  Sunday  afternoon  meetings  the  enter- 
tainments were  given  by  the  different  Sunday 


44  BOYVILLE. 

schools  of  the  city,  and  occasionally  by  some  so- 
ciety, all  kindly  volunteering  their  valuable  ser- 
vices. Splendid  mUsic,  interesting  talkers,  little 
girls  and  boys  in  recitations  or  songs  who  always 
made  a  hit  among  the  newsies.  In  time  the  news- 
boys became  so  interested  in  the  work  that  many 
of  them  concluded  that  they  could  "do  a  stunt  or 
two,"  and  the  program  was  divided  in  two  parts. 
First,  the  Sunday-school  or  society,  followed  by 
the  newsboys  who  introduced  their  best  speakers, 
singers,  etc. 

"These  Sunday  afternoon  gatherings,"  to 
copy  from  an  editorial  in  one  of  the  daily  news- 
papers, "have  improved  the  tastes,  aroused  the 
better  natures,  stimulated  the  ambitions,  revealed 
new  and  nobler  ideals  and  altogether,  have  opened 
a  new  world  of  more  sober  and  serious  plans  for 
future  success  of  the  bright  little  business  men." 

One  of  the  most  trying  incidents  that  ever 
came  to  the  attention  of  the  president  was  at  one 
of  the  Sunday  afternoon  meetings  held  in  a  thea- 
tre, when  was  brought  to  the  rear  of  the  stage 
two  newsboys  so  drunk  that  a  policeman  had  to 
hold  them  from  falling. 

They  had  a  bottle  of  whiskey  between  them. 
In  broken  sentences  they  told  where  a  keeper  had 


BOYVILLE.  4$ 

sold  them  the  hquor,  Sunday  morning,  and  how 
the  men  in  the  saloon  dared  them  to  drink  all  the 
whiskey  in  the  bottle.  It  wasn't  necessary  to 
drink  all,  a  few  swallows  made  them  dizzy.  "We 
got  funny  and  noisy,  an'  the  man  pitched  us  out." 
They  staggered  towards  the  opera  house  to  at- 
tend the  newsboys'  meeting,  when  a  policeman 
assisted  them  in  the  house.  Immediately  upon 
their  entrance  their  friends  hustled  them  out  of 
sight  behind  the  stage.  The  president  at  once 
called  the  association  officers  and  turned  the  two 
boys  over  to  them.  Quickly  the  officers  removed 
their  badges.  It  was  difficult  to  restrain  some  of 
them  from  "giving  the  boys  a  thorough  thrash- 
ing." Through  the  influence  of  the  boy,  Jimmy, 
the  sympathy  of  the  newsboys'  turned  quickly  to 
the  two  boys  and  a  determination  for  revenge  on 
the  saloon  keeper  followed.  The  newsboy  officers 
took  the  two  little  fellows  to  their  homes.  In  a 
few  days  they  reported  to  the  president  that  the 
boys  received  such  a  severe  punishment  from 
their  parents  that  they  would  be  laid  up  for  a 
month.  The  saloonman  was  visited  by  two  of 
the  oldest  experienced  officers.  They  were  re- 
ceived with  kindness,  and  after  talking  over  the 
matter  for  some  time  it  was  mutually  agreed  that 


46  BOYVILLE. 

the  boys  were  to  notify  all  members  that  they 
must  keep  out  of  the  saloon,  as  the  proprieter 
promised  not  to  sell  liquor  of  any  kind  to  news- 
boys and  to  refuse  to  sell  liquor  to  any  of  the 
father's  of  the  newsboys — "when  he  thought  they 
had  enough." 

For  a  month  the  boys  watched  that  saloon, 
and  if  a  newsboy  entered,  his  badge  was  taken 
from  him.  The  saloonman  took  greater  interest 
than  the  boys,  for  he  absolutely  refused  to  sell 
liquor  to  any  one  whom  he  thought  had  "all  he 
could  carry." 

Today  this  saloonman  is  respected  by  the 
newsboys  and  many  good  deeds  are  credited  to 
him. 

"He  is  simply  trying  to  lift  up  a  man  instead 
of  pulling  him  down,"  said  an  officer. 

The  good  that  has  been  accomplished  from  the 
Sunday  afternoon  meetings,  commonly  called 
"The  Popular  Sunday  School,"  cannot  be  esti- 
mated. Thousands  of  people  attend  these  meet- 
ings. They  are  pleased  because  the  newsboys  do 
the  entertaining.  There  isn't  a  great  deal  of 
preaching,  but  there  is  enough.  "The  object  is 
not  to  give  so  much  of  that  sort  of  thing,"  says 
an  editorial  in  one  of  the  great  dailies,  "but  what 


BOYVILLE.  47 

preaching  they  get  is  wholesome.  The  boys  get 
a  chance  to  laugh  and  clapp  their  hands.  They 
are  permitted  to  be  boys  on  Sunday  just  as  on 
week  days.  There  is  good  music,  too.  It  is  apt 
to  be  a  patriotic  air,  or  a  popular  song.  A  sweet 
httle  girl  sang  The'  Good  Old  Summer  Time,' 
and  the  newsies  joined  in  the  chorous.  It  wasn't 
classical,  but  it  was  good.  Instead  of  shooting 
over  people's  heads  the  musicians  aim  at  their 
hearts.  The  preaching  isn't  a  tiresome  string 
of  'does'  and  'don'ts/  'musts'  and  'mustn'ts'.  It 
is  mostly  plain  talks  from  plain  people  w^ho  know 
they  are  talking  to  boys  whose  veins  are  bulging 
with  rich,  red  human  blood.  But  the  boys  them- 
selves furnish  most  of  the  program.  Boys  who 
sell  papers,  who  shine  shoes,  on  the  streets,  get 
up  before  big  audiences,  make  speeches,  sing 
songs,  'recite  pieces'  and  do  other  interesting  and 
instructive  stunts.  And  hundreds  of  these  little 
newsboys  sit  in  the  auditorium,  conduct  them- 
selves like  gentlemen  and  thoroughly  enjoy  the 
entertainment.  An  interesting  fact  about  this 
association,  is  that  its  membership  comprises  the 
rich  as  well  as  the  poor.  If  a  rich  man's  son  car- 
ries a  route  he  is  in  the  same  boat  with  the  poorest 
lad  that  peddles  papers  on  the  street.    There  are 


48  BOYVILLE. 

boys  who  have  rich  fathers,  boys  who  have  poor 
fathers,  boys  who  have  industrious  fathers,  boys 
who  have  drunken  fathers,  and  boys  who  have 
no  fathers  at  all.  There  are  Protestant  boys,  Cath- 
olic boys,  Hebrew  boys,  white  boys,  black  boys — 
and  all  are  full-fledged,  honored  members  of  the 
same  newsboy  family,  which  is  run  on  the  prin- 
ciple of  equal  rights  for  all  and  special  privileges 
for  none.  Rich  boys  are  not  debarred.  There  is 
a  desire  to  save  them  from  wealth's  temptations 
and  make  good  citizens  of  them  in  spite  of  their 
handicap.  The  poor  boys  who  sell  papers  to  help 
keep  the  family  from  starvation  are  generous  and 
are  willing  to  let  the  rich  in  on  the  ground  floor. 
So  it  is  a  pretty  broad  and  big  Sunday-school. 
And  a  good  one.  Every  boy  who  belongs  to  it 
is  better  for  his  membership.  He  is  taught  to 
travel  on  his  own  merits  and  not  lean  on  his  papa. 
He  is  taught  that  he  must  paddle  his  own  canoe ; 
and  that  he  will  be  judged  by  what  HE  does,  not 
by  his  father's  success." 


CHAPTER  IX. 

So  great  became  the  interest  in  the  success  of 
the  Boyville  Newsboys'  Association  that  many 
additions  were  made  to  add  to  its  prosperity, 
through  which  the  association  became  favorably 
known  throughout  the  United  States. 

A  newsboys'  band^  of  thirty-eight  pieces  was 
organized,  the  sellers  being  in  the  majority.  The 
expense  of  the  band  was  borne  entirely  by  one  of 
the  enterprising  dailies.  The  musical  talent,  dis- 
covered by  an  efficient  leader,  in  the  newsboys, 
was  remarkable.  In  less  than  a  year  they  were 
able  to  play  some  of  the  most  difficult  pieces,  and 
the  general  deportment  of  the  boys  surprised  all 
who  saw  them. 

The  organization  of  the  South-end  Cadets 
was  an  event  which  proved  to  be  one  of  the  most 
successful  additions  to  the  association.  Their 
fine  personal  appearance,  their  remarkable  drill- 
ing, their  good  behavior  at  all  times  and  on  all 
occasions,  with  the  band,  made  Boyville  exten- 
sively and  favorably  known  as  the  home  of  the 
best  newsboys  in  the  world. 

Nothing  in  the  history  of  the  work  among 
the  newsboys  was  as  important  as  the  interest 


50  BOYVILLE. 

taken  by  the  various  churches,  regardless  of  sect, 
through  their  ministers,  in  holding  special  Sun- 
day evening  meetings  for  the  members  of  the 
association.  All  through  the  city  the  auxiliaries 
were  invited,  and  particular  pains  taken  in  the 
preparation  of  a  program  suitable  to  all.  When 
the  boys  were  first  invited,  the  expression  was 
frequently  heard :  "Gee  wiz,  we  gets  front  rows." 
The  illustration  shows  the  boys  marching  to  one 
of  these  evening  entertainments. 

The  value  of  these  meetings  cannot  be  esti- 
mated. The  good  attendance,  the  close  attention, 
the  good  behavior  of  the  boys  made  them  many 
friends,  and  people  began  to  look  more  kindly 
upon  the  newsboy. 

With  these  improvements  in  the  street-boy 
and  the  success  of  the  association  naturally,  the 
president  received  many  letters  from  men  and 
women  all  over  the  land  seeking  information 
about  the  detail  work  of  the  association. 

With  the  view  that  this  work  may  eventually 
be  extended  throughout  the  country,  the  presi- 
dent conceived  the  idea  that  a  convention  of  news- 
boys and  their  friends  might  be  held  and  a  Na- 
tional association  organized  through  which  much 
good  could  be  accomplished.    He  therefore  opened 


BOYVILLE.  51 

correspondence  with  the  managers  of  the  World's 
Fair,  St  Louis,  Mo.,  with  a  view  of  getting  their 
consent  and  approval  to  set  apart  a  day  to  be 
known  as  Newsboys'  Day.  This  met  with  prompt 
reply  and  a  most  hearty  endorsement  of  the  offic- 
ials, and  newspaper  representatives  generally 
throughout  the  United  States,  and  resulted  in 
selecting  Tuesday,  August  16,  1904,  as  News- 
boys' Day. 

That  the  convention  might  prove  a  success, 
particularly  among  men  who  are  familiar  with 
work  among  newsboys,  the  aid  of  the  circulating 
managers  of  the  newspapers  was  asked.  At  the 
annual  convention  of  the  National  Association 
of  Managers  of  Newspaper  Circulation,  held  at 
the  World's  Fair  June  12,  1904,  the  president  of 
"Boyville"  appeared  and  explained  the  methods 
adopted  in  this  association.  He  satisfied  them 
that,  not  only  did  the  association  accomplish  much 
good,  through  its  efforts  to  influence  boy's  work, 
but  it  also  proved  to  be  a  great  aid  to  the  news- 
papers in  increasing  circulation.  He  therefore 
asked  for  endorsement  and  support  of  the  mem- 
bers of  this  organization  in  forming  a  National 
Newsboys'  Association. 


52  BOYVILLE. 

In  recognition  of  this  a  resolution  was  unan- 
imously passed  endorsing  the  movement;  and  a 
committee  was  appointed  to  co-operate  with  the 
trustees  of  the  Boyville  association  with  the  view 
of  not  only  making  Newsboys'  Day  a  success  but 
in  organizing  a  National  Newsboys'  Association. 


CHAPTER  X. 

On  the  afternoon,  of  Tuesday,  August  16, 
1904,  in  the  magnificent  Festival  Hall,  at  the 
World's  Fair,  where  were  present  hundreds  of 
newsboys,  representing  nearly  every  State  in  the 
Union;  and  newspaper  representatives  from  the 
leading  papers  of  the  country,  there  was  organ- 
ized The  National  Newsboys'  Association;  offi- 
cers were  elected  and  instructions  were  given 
them  to  perfect  the  organization  and  adopt  the 
plan  so  successfully  carried  on  by  the  Boyville 
Newsboys'  Association,  and  having  for  its  object 
the  extension  of  the  work  in  every  town  and  city  , 
in  the  land  that  there  may  be  established  fra- 
ternal relations  among  newsboys  everywhere  in 
making  them  an  important  part  in  the  business 
world,  honored  and  treated  with  respect  by  all 
good  citizens. 

While  the  details  of  the  organization  were 
being  worked  out,  the  officers  were  instructed,  by 
the  trustees,  to  issue  membership  cards  and 
badges  and  to  organize  auxiliaries  in  cities  and 
towns  wherever  desired. 

A  year  has  passed  since  the  organization  of 
the  National  Newsboys'  Association,  and  the  offi- 


54 


BOYVILLE. 


cers  have  established  auxiliaries  in  many  cities 
and  towns  in  the  United  States  with  inquiries 
from  foreign  cities. 

In  the  discussion  regarding  the  formation  of 
the  constitution  etc.,  it  was  agreed  that  an  or- 
ganized association  of  newsboys  with  an  enroll- 
ment of  twenty-five  boys  would  be  received  into 
the  National  Association  as  an  auxiliary,  and,  in 
towns  where  there  were  a  less  number  than 
twenty-five  newsboys,  each  boy  could  become 
members  under  the  trustees  of  the  National  As- 
sociation. 

No  recognition  of  the  work  accomplished  by 
the  National  and  Boyville  Associations  was  so 
important  and  no  greater  good  can  be  ac- 
complished than  the  official  approval  and  endorse- 
ment by  the  officers  of  the  greatest  railroads  in 
America. 

It  is  an  undisputed  fact,  railroad  detectives 
as  authority,  that  a  majority  of  the  young  men  ar- 
rested for  stealing  merchandise  from  freight  cars 
were  once  boys  who  sold  or  waited  for  newspa- 
pers at  the  stations  of  our  railroads. 
,  The  officers  of  the  Boyville  Association  have 
Ion  file  congratulatory  letters  from  prominent 
railroad  detectives  heartily  approving  of  the  work 


BOYVILLE.  ss 

accomplished  in  trying  to  teach  the  boys  who  sell 
or  wait  for  papers  at  the  stations,  honesty.  One 
detective  wrote:  "You  are  saving  the  railroads 
thousands  of  dollars  worth  of  property  and  a  mil- 
lion dollars  worth  of  trouble." 

The  railroads  who  have  approved  of  the  work 
have  permitted  the  officers  of  the  National  Asso- 
ciation to  issue  circular  letters  to  their  agents  in- 
structing them  to  allow  no  newsboy  to  sell  or 
wait  for  newspapers  at  the  stations  unless  he  is  a 
member  of  the  association  and  wears,  while  on 
duty,  the  official  badge.  This  simply  means  that 
newsboys  to  sell  or  wait  for  papers  at  railroad 
stations  must  not  swear,  steal,  lie,  smoke  cigar- 
ettes or  gamble.  The  trustees,  feeling  that  the 
good  work  accomplished  among  the  newsboys 
would  be  still  further  advanced  by  bringing  the 
National  Association  to  public  notice,  decided 
that  the  expense  of  sending  the  newsboys'  band 
and  cadets  to  Washington,  to  take  part  in  the  in- 
augural parade  of  President  Theodore  Roosevelt 
on  March  4,  1905,  would  be  justified. 

Correspondence  with  the  inaugural  commit- 
tee proved  one  of  the  pleasant  experiences,  for 
the  recognition  by  the  chief  marshall  and  other 
officials  of  the  civic  grand  division  was  quickly 


56  BOYVILLE. 

and  heartily  given.  The  work  of  completing  the 
detail  arrangements,  necessarily  irksome,  was  so 
cordially  conducted  that  the  trustees  felt  more 
than  ever  justified  in  sending  the  newsboys'  band 
and  cadets,  and  the  vice-presidents  of  the  various 
auxiliaries,  in  order  that  Boyville  could  be  offi- 
cially represented. 

"Sixty-five  newsboys  let  loose  in  the  city  of 
Washington  during  the  inaugural  ceremonies 
would  cause  the  men  in  charge  more  trouble  and 
unhappiness,  and  disgrace  to  the  city  represented 
than  the  honor  gained,"  was  the  public  declara- 
tion of  men  who  were  not  familiar  with  what 
could  be  done  by  newsboys. 

Satisfactory  arrangements  were  made  in  all 
details. 

To  show  the  activity  and  self-responsibility 
of  a  newsboy,  while  the  boys  were  enroute  they 
stopped  at  Cleveland.  Two  hours  were  given 
them  to  go  where  they  pleased.  In  less  than  an 
hour  the  sellers  said: 

''We  have  done  the  town,  been  all  through  the 
public  buildings  and  we're  ready  to  go.  We  were 
treated  like  reporters." 

In  Washington  thirty  minutes  after  their 
arrival  at  headquarters,  the  president  called  a 


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BOYVILLE.  ^7 

dozen  boys  to  him  and  tried  to  tell  them  how  to 
find  their  hotel  ( ?)  from  a  given  point. 

"Aw,  what  you  trying  to  give  us.     We  ain't 
asleep.     We've  been  round  the  square,  and  say, 
president,  we  found  a  first-class  eating  place. 
It's  out  o'  sight." 

Two  hours  after  the  boys  were  settled,  a 
majority  of  them  had  been  through  and  around 
nearly  all  of  the  public  buildings,  and  were  ready 
"to  do  the  White  House."  When  requested  to 
report  at  a  stated  hour  and  place,  every  boy  was 
there  on  time  and  to  the  minute. 

One  of  the  greatest  lessons  the  president 
learned  from  the  trip,  from  these  newsboys,  was 
the  perfect  control  they  have  of  themselves. 

They  were  always  happy.  Always  contented 
and  satisfied  with  conditions.  Never  complain- 
ing or  borrowing  trouble  showing  that  worry  is 
a  thing  unknown  to  newsboys.  The  loss  of  a  hat, 
of  a  piece  of  baggage,  an  order  changing  contem- 
plated plans,  all  were  received  with  the  same  won- 
derful patience  and  good  ch^er,  which  seem  part 
of  the  nature  of  a  newsboy.  The  boy  without  a 
cent  in  his  pocket  was  happier  than  the  boy  whose 
parents  supplied  him  with  more  money  than  he 
needed.     Wherever  these  boys  appeared  on  the 


58  BOYVILLE. 

streets  of  Washington  they  were  little  gentle- 
men, an  honor  to  the  city  who  sent  them,  an  hon- 
or to  themselves  and,  an  honor  to  the  great 
country  they  represent.  On  the  train  en  route 
Governor  Myron  T.  Herrick,  in  his  address  to  the 
boys  said:  "I  consider  it  a  very  great  honor  to 
the  state  of  Ohio  to  send  from  its  commonwealth 
such  a  bright  lot  of  boys,  and  boys  who  repre- 
sent our  little  street  merchants,  boys  who  are  des- 
tined to  be  the  good  men  of  the  future." 


CHAPTER  XL 

Newsboys  are  students.  From  the  necessity 
of  knowing  the  special  happenings  of  the  day,  as 
soon  as  they  receive  their  papers  they  quickly 
read  the  head  lines.  First,  they  can  be  seen  to 
slowly  spell  each  word,  but  in  a  very  short  time 
they  read  without  assistance.  It  is  one  of  the  ad- 
vantages to  boys  selling  papers,  it  is  an  educator. 
To  be  successful,  they  must  become  familiar  with 
the  news  of  the  day  and  be  able  to  cry  it  to  induce 
men  to  purchase. 

After  the  inaugural  parade,  when  most  peo- 
ple were  tired,  the  newsboys,  at  their  headquar- 
ters, "chipped  in"  and  raised  enough  money  to 
send  one  of  the  boys  "down  town  to  purchase  a 
copy  of  every  paper  sold  in  the  city."  The  boy  re- 
turned with  New  York,  Philadelphia  and  Wash- 
ington dailies  and  a  dozen  sellers  were  seated  on 
the  cots,  each  earnestly  reading,  and  commenting 
on  leading  articles.    One  little  seller  said: 

"Say,  look  here,  fellers,  Teddy  has  started  to 
work,  he  made  an  appointment.  I  guess  he  means 
business." 

Is  there  another  organization  whose  mem- 
bers, when  attending  a  convention,  are  so  inter- 


6o  BOYVILLE. 

ested  in  the  news  of  the  day  as  to  send  one  of 
their  number — "down  the  avenue  to  purchase  a 
copy  of  each  of  the  daiHes  the  town  takes  ?" 

From  the  highest  officers  in  the  land;  from 
the  committee  in  charge  of  the  various  divisions ; 
from  the  foreign  as  well  as  the  Washington  news- 
papers, praise  and  compliments  were  given 
these  newsboys  for  the  almost  perfect  marching, 
in  the  parade. 

They  said: 

"The  newsboys'  band  and  cadets  made  the  hit 
of  the  day,  in  the  parade,  and  made  thousands  of 
friends  throughout  the  United  States  *  *  * 
President  Roosevelt  was  immensely  pleased  with 
the  newsboys  and  could  not  say  enough  of  the  re- 
markable appearance  they  made.  The  News- 
boys' Band  and  Cadets,  sixty-five  in  all,  which 
led  the  third  brigade  of  the  civic  grand  division, 
are  the  first  newsboys  in  America  to  be  recog- 
nized in  an  inaugural  parade.  The  band  thirty- 
eight  pieces,  is  uniformed  in  red  with  black  trim- 
mings; the  cadets,  twenty,  with  red  and  white 
trimmings.  The  cadets  march  under  the  leader- 
ship of  Drum-Major  Francis  McGarry,  the 
youngest  drum-major  in  the  world,  and  a  little 
fellow  who  has  to  take  a  hitch-step  every  other 


BOYVILLE.  6i 

step  in  order  to  keep  up  with  the  procession.  The 
general  appearance  and  manly  conduct  of  the 
young  gentlemen  elicited  many  favorable  com- 
ments. They  were  an  object  lesson  of  a  very  re- 
markable character,  which  is  calculated  to  arouse 
in  them  a  higher  degree  of  patriotism  and  love  for 
their  country." 


TART    THIRD 


i  am  an  officer  of  the  sellers 
auxiliary;  get  busy." 


LADY,   I  AM   SORRY   I   RUN   AWAY  WID  DE  MONEY. 

See  Page  68 


CHAPTER  XII. 

The  reader  will  observe  that  when  Bo)rville 
was  well  organized  no  boys  were  admitted  to 
membership  except  those  who  sold  newspapers 
or  shined  shoes.  But  later,  after  many  years  of 
work,  incident  after  incident  came  to  the  presi- 
dent of  the  wrong-doings  of  the  carriers  who  oc- 
casionally sold  extras.  Those  boys  came  from  the 
best  families  and  much  was  expected  from  them 
by  the  sellers.  But  some  of  them  proved  to  be 
very  bad  boys.  The  following  is  one  of  a  number 
of  incidents  that  induced  the  president  to  include 
the  carriers  in  the  association. 

A  very  kind  lady,  living  in  the  heart  of  the 
city,  and  who  was  a  subscriber  to  one  of  the  dail- 
ies, reported  to  the  president ;  "a  boy  who  carried 
my  paper  and  whom  I  owed  eighteen  cents,  has 
skipped  with  a  dollar.  He  did  not  have  the  change 
and  asked  permission  to  cross  the  street  to  get  it. 
I  saw  him  run  down  the  street  as  fast  as  his  little 
legs  would  carry  him.  I  knew  he  was  running 
away  and  would  not  return.  It  is  not  so  much  on 
account  of  the  money,  that  I  call  your  attention 
to  this,  as  it  is  to  correct  the  boy,  and  save  him 
from  future  wrong  doing." 


66  BOYVILLE. 

She  was  asked  to  describe  the  boy.  As  it  was 
dark  this  was  difficult. 

"But  I  did  notice,"  she  said,  "that  he  had  on 
a  very  bright  pink  necktie." 

This  was  the  first  instance  she  knew  of  the 
boy  being  dishonest.  He  had  always  delivered 
the  paper  promptly,  never  missing  a  day. 

"But,  a  big  new  dollar  was  too  much  for  him." 

Immediately  upon  the  receipt  of  this  informa- 
tion the  president  called  his  best  ofhcer  and  re- 
peated the  story. 

"A  pink  necktie,"  he  said.  "Let  me  see,  there 
is  a  pretty  lively  little  fellow  that  comes  down 
town  occasionally  and  poses  on  the  corners.  I 
know  him.    He  always  wears  that  necktie." 

Inquiry  among  the  sellers  soon  gave  the  offi- 
cer all  the  information  necessary  as  to  where  the 
boy  lived.  He  was  not  a  member  of  the  associa- 
tion. He  was  a  carrier.  He  was  supposed  to  be 
good.  A  dozen  boys  knew  the  pink  necktie 
carrier. 

Following  is  the  official  report  of  the  officer 
who  went  after  the  boy. 

"I  found  he  lived  over  a  mile  from  the  place 
where  he  delivered  the  paper.  It  was  a  swell 
part  of  the  city.    When  I  went  there  I  asked  for 


BOYVILLE.  67 

the  boy.  He  was  in  bed.  I  told  his  mother  I 
wanted  to  see  him  on  some  very  particular  per- 
sonal business.  He  was  tucked  up  in  a  nice  warm 
bed,  and  I  hated  to  disturb  him.  When  I  asked 
him  if  he  had  received  a  dollar  from  a  lady  for 
papers,  he  covered  his  head  with  the  clothes.  I 
knew  I  was  right.  I  told  him  to  get  out  of  bed, 
and  go  with  me  to  see  the  lady,  return  her  money, 
and  beg  her  pardon.  I  had  him  dead  to  rights  for 
he  didn't  want  his  mother  to  know  what  he  had 
done.  I  went  down  stairs  and  told  his  mother  I 
had  some  very  important  things  we  boys  wanted 
him  to  do.  She  hesitated  a  little  and  finally  let 
him  go.  He  dressed,  and  when  on  the  way  I  told 
him  he  must  get  down  on  his  knees  and  beg  the 
lady's  pardon;  he  cried  and  said,  'I  will  go  home 
before  I'll  do  that.'  All  right,  I  said,  if  you  want 
your  mother  to  know  what  a  little  rascal  you  are, 
how  you  steal  money,  we'll  go  back,  but  if  you 
want  to  be  a  little  man,  and  make  things  right, 
with  my  help,  well  and  good.  When  we  reached 
the  house,  we  had  to  go  up  a  stairway,  and  the 
boy  threw  himself  on  the  steps  and  said,  'Oh,  I 
can't  do  this,'  but  I  said  you  could  steal  all  right, 
so  come  on.  Up  the  stairs  we  went,  and  I  knocked 
at  the  door.     I  thought  that  boy  would  faint. 


68  BOYVILLE. 

'Oh,  I  can't  do  it,'  he  cried,  when  the  door  opened 
and  the  lady  stood  before  him.  She  understood 
the  situation.  She  hfted  him  to  his  feet.  I  pulled 
him  back,  and  said,  *No,  my  lady,  he  must  get 
down  on  his  knees,  return  you  the  dollar,  and  beg 
your  pardon.'  It  was  a  tough  job  for  that  kid,  but 
he  did  it;  and  after  it  was  all  over  he  said,  'My! 
but  I  feel  better,  I'm  glad  this  is  over.'  On  the 
way  he  told  me  he  had  spent  forty  cents  and  had 
but  sixty  cents  left  to  pay  the  lady,  so  I  gave  him 
the  money  to  make  the  dollar,  and  he  is  to  pay  me 
five  cents  a  week  until  all  is  paid  up.  On  the  way 
home  he  was  the  happiest  lad  I  ever  saw.  The 
lady  said  it  was  the  slickest  piece  of  detective 
work  she  ever  heard  of,  and  wished  to  thank  you 
and  the  boys  for  starting  the  association." 

A  few  days  after  this  little  incident,  the 
boy  was  brought  to  the  president,  by  the  officer, 
requesting  that  he  become  a  member  of  Boyville. 
His  name  was  signed  to  an  application  and  when 
the  officer  asked  him  how  he  felt  after  returning 
the  dollar,  he  looked  a  little  ashamed,  but  quickly 
said: I  "You  bet,  I'll  never  do  any  thing  like  that 
again.  It  isn't  safe  in  this  city,  the  kids  find  a 
fellow  out  when  they  are  bad.  I'm  glad  we  fixed 
it  up  all  right. 'f 


BOYVILLE.  69 

He  gradually  paid  back  the  money  the  officer 
advanced.  Two  years  have  passed  since  that 
eventful  night,  and  today  the  boy  is  one  of  the 
most  efficient  officers  in  the  Boyville  association. 

The  following  editorial  is  taken  from  one  of 
the  city  dailies  relative  to  the  pink  necktie  story. 
It  reads. 

"The  story  explains  how  well  the  officer  did 
his  work.  There  is  a  lesson  for  boys  and  men. 
too,  in  this  little  story.  \It  shows  that  policemen 
and  jails  are  not  necessary  when  boys  and  men 
know  how  to  do  right.  [  No  policeman,  judge  or 
jury  was  needed  to  straighten  out  this  difficulty. 
Newsboy  government  did  the  work.  It  got  the 
woman  her  money,  and  taught  the  boy  with  the 
pink  necktie  a  lesson  he  will  never  forget.  He 
didn't  have  to  be  arrested  or  go  to  jail.  The 
public  will  never  know  who  he  is.  He  will  not 
be  further  disgraced.  Now,  why  do  these  boys, 
officers  of  this  association,  do  this?  simply  be- 
cause they  are  proud  of  the  reputation  of  their 
association.  They  have  learned  that  the  asso- 
ciation's reputation  is  made  up  of  the  reputations 
of  its  members.  They  have  learned  that  one  dis- 
honest act  by  one  newsboy  reflects  on  all  news- 
boys and  on  the  organization.     So  they  insist 


70  BOYVILLE. 

that  all  members  must  be  honest  and  protect  the 
association's  good  name.  It  isn't  fear  of  the  po- 
licemen or  jails  that  makes  these  boys  honest.  It 
is  the  fear  of  their  own  conscience  and  the  opin- 
ion of  their  comrades.  They  want  to  be  able  to 
walk  along  the  street  with  their  heads  up,  and  to 
look  every  honest  man  squarely  in  the  eye.  They 
know  they  are  as  good  as  the  richest  man  in  town 
if  they  are  honest.  They  are  learning  that  it  pays 
to  do  right,  and  not  because  of  what  may  happen 
to  them  as  a  result  of  dishonesty.  If  men  would 
follow  the  same  plan  the  world  wouldn't  need  its 
thousands  of  jails,  reformatories  and  penitentia- 
ries. If  men  would  only  feel  that  each  one  of  them 
is  a  member  of  the  human  society,  association  or 
organization,  and  that  wrong  committeed  by  one 
is  a  reflection  on  all,  it  would  save  heartaches  and 
trouble  in  this  world." 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Do  you  believe  a  boy  that  is  good  at  home, 
one  who  is  cared  for  and  loved  as  we  often 
see  an  only  child,  could  possibly  do  anything  bad 
on  the  streets,  away  from  home  influence  ? 

A  neatly  dressed  boy,  a  carrier,  whose  parents 
"wanted  him  to  learn  the  trade  of  the  street,  to 
give  him  self-reliance  and  business  tact,  and  all 
that  the  street  teaches  without  much  effort," 
when  through  with  his  little  route  of  carrying 
papers  insisted  upon  going,  "to  the  heart  of  the 
city  and  selling  papers  on  special  occasions,  ex- 
tras." 

Before  Boyville  was  fully  organized  the  presi- 
dent's attention  was  called  to  this  little  fellow — as 
being  "a  perfect  nuisance.  He  was  impudent, 
frequently  used  profane  language  and  was  one 
of  the  worst  boys  on  the  street."  At  that  time  the 
association  had  but  one  (boy)  officer.  He  was 
told  to  .watch  this  boy.  See  that  he  was  corrected. 
"And,  above  everything  not  to  lose  him  because 
he  was  bad."  Within  a  month  the  officer  re- 
ported "the  boy's  parents  were  among  the  best  in 
the  city,  good  christian  people,  attending  church 


72  BOYVILLE. 

every  Sunday,  and  the  boy  a  regular  prize-winner 
for  perfect  attendance  at  Sunday-school.  When 
this  boy  was  away  from  home,  out  of  sight  of  his 
parents — he  was  a  little  terror." 

"Well,  what  did  you  do  with  him  ?"  was  asked 
the  officer. 

"I  takes  his  papers,  an'  shows  him  as  how  to 
sell  'em.  How  to  say  thank  you  when  he  sells  to 
a  gemmen  or  a  ladies.  And  how's  not  to  be  the 
whole  thing  when  on  the  street  working.  He  cut 
out  swearing  de  furst  thing.  He  was  easy  doing, 
all  he  wanted  wus  guidin." 

"What  did  he  say  to  your  work?" 

"When  I  puts  twenty  cents  in  his  hand,  an' 
says  this  is  yourn,  he  gets  wise,  he  gets  next  to 
a  good  thing  and  is  now  working  on  de  square. 
He  is  de  boss  seller  on  de  street  an'  no  boy  kin 
sell  on  de  corners  and  swear,  or  steal.  He  fights 
'em.     He.  does." 

That  same  little  boy,  who  was  given  a  warn- 
ing by  a  fellow  companion  with  a  little  authority, 
today  receives  a  salary  of  eight  hundred  dollars 
a  year  in  an  important  commercial  position. 

In  every  city  of  our  land  there  are  hundreds 
of  boys  like  this  "good  boy  at  home,"  who  on  the 


TROW   DE  CIGARETTE  AWAY." 

See  Page  74 


BOYVILLE.  73 

street  surprises  their  most  intimate  friends  by 
their  wickedness. 

The  newsboy  cannot  gain  admission  to  many 
of  the  boys  clubs,  debating  ckibs,  athletic  clubs, 
and  is  often  debarred  from  many  of  our  great- 
est christian  associations,  because  he  is  a  being 
within  himself,  he  stands  alone  in  his  class,  a 
creation  of  his  own  acts  and  deeds,  and  goes  upon 
the  street  at  that  age  when  environment  molds 
his  future,  and  generally  molds  it  bad. 

A  question  is  often  asked,  what  would  become 
of  a  boy  if  he  were  left  to  himself,  with  no  train- 
ing, no  guidance,  no  education.  A  boy  of  the 
street,  who  is  dead  to  home  influences,  or  worse, 
who  is  driven  out  to  make  a  living  for  himself  by 
heartless  parents  or  guardians,  or  unfortunate 
conditions  of  life,  and  there  are  hundreds  of  them 
in  every  city,  becomes  a  power  in  himself.  For 
evil,  first.  "For  the  heart  of  the  sons  of  men  is 
fully  set  in  them  to  do  evil."  If  left  alone  the 
evil  will  get  the  upper  hand.  The  street  teaches 
irregular  habits  and  restlessness. 

The  following  incident  will  show  how  diligent 
were  the  boys,  not  officers,  in  watching  their  com- 
panions. 

Two  little  boys,  ages  nine  and  twelve,  saw  a 


74  BOYVILLE. 

fellow  member  standing  in  an  alley,  behind  a 
pile  of  store  boxes  and  enjoying  a  cigarette  to 
his  great  delight.  He  was  afraid  to  appear  on 
the  street  as  the  boys  were  watching  for  such 
cases.  He  was  a  boy  about  fifteen  years  of  age, 
rather  stout  and  independent,  but  a  staunch  mem- 
ber of  the  association.  He  might  have  used  his 
strength  to  great  advantage  in  arguing  with  the 
two  boys  who  attacked  him  as  soon  as  discovered. 

"Say,  Mike,  youse  knows  it's  agin  the  rule 
to  smoke  dem  cig'rettes." 

"Dat's  all  right.  If  I  wants  to  smoke,  I 
smoke,  see?  No  one  sees  me  in  the  alley.  I 
don't  smoke  when  I  sells  me  papers." 

"Aw!  comes  off,  youse  knows  de  rules.  Cut 
it  out.  Trow  it  away.  Youse  knows  our  presi- 
dent don't  wants  youse  ter  smoke  'em.  Cut  it 
out.    Trow  it  away." 

This  persuasive  talk  or  "bluff"  as  the  smoker 
declared,  had  but  little  effect  until  the  two  boys 
began  to  take  off  their  coats.  When  donned  for 
the  prize  ring,  the  boys  walked  to  the  violator, 
presenting  a  bold  front  and  again  demanded  that 
the  cigarette  be  thrown  away,  and  promise  made 
that  he  would  never  smoke  again. 

"What  youse  goin'  to  do?"  he  said,  backing 


BOYVILLE.  75 

up  closer  to  the  building.  "We  will  trow  you 
down,  take  your  badge  frum  youse  an'  take  it  to 
the  president." 

The  big  boy  stood  quiet  for  some  moments,  in 
the  mean  time  about  thirty  newsies  had  gathered 
around  him,  each  yelling — "trow  it  away." 

"I  haint  lookin'  fur  no  trouble,"  he  finally 
said,  and  threw  the  cigarette  in  the  alley. 

"We's  only  doin'  you  a  good  turn,"  said  the 
nine-year-old  newsy. 

"It's  all  right.  I  was  only  tryin'  to  see  if  you 
would  stop  me.  I'll  cut  it  all  out.  I  will  never 
smoke  again." 

That  boy  did  not  have  to  be  watched.  He  was 
good  and  kind  to  his  little  friends,  and  proved  to 
be  one  of  the  best  boys  on  the  street.  Two  years 
later,  when  he  graduated  from  the  junior  grade, 
in  one  of  the  ward  schools,  he  came  to  the  presi- 
dent, saying  that  his  mother  was  poor  and  sickly 
and  he  had  to  go  to  work.  He  was  sent  to  a 
wholesale  house  where  was  wanted  a  good  hon- 
est boy. 

The  first  question  asked  Mike  was: 

"Do  you  smoke  cigarettes?"  The  president 
will  never  forget  the  manly,  prompt  reply.  He 
was  given  a  good  position,  and  that  boy  today  is 


76  BOYVILLE. 

traveling  for  a  firm  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  at  a  big 
salary.  The  increased  interest  in  the  detail  work 
taken  by  the  boys  themselves  encouraged  the 
president  to  believe  that  he  was  still  on  the  right 
road  to  build  these  little  street-boys  up  for  good, 
not  only  for  themselves  but  for  doing  good 
for  others.  Another  case  of  interest  in  an  un- 
usual way  of  "doin'  a  good  turn."  A  bright- 
eyed,  red-faced  boy,  ten  years  old,  came  running 
into  the  president's  office,  one  evening,  almost 
out  of  breath,  and  after  clearing  the  way  through 
a  long  room,  he  stood  before  the  officer,  eyes 
sparkling  with  interest.  He  had  something  im- 
portant to  say.  His  elbows  were  bare,  his  pants 
torn,  his  cap  merely  a  piece  of  cloth,  with  a  rim 
strong  enough  to  hold  it  in  place.  His  name  was 
Bluster,  receiving  it  from  the  boys  on  account  of 
his  blustering  manner  of  doing  things. 

"Say,  pres.,"  yelled  Bluster.  "I  want  author- 
ity to  lick  a  kid." 

That  was  a  strange  request.  While  the  presi- 
dent was  thinking  what  to  say  he  added. 

"I  must  have  permission  fur  de  gang's  after 
me.  Dey  're  on  me  track."  Not  desiring  the 
gang  to  enter  the  office  and  create  a  scene,  con- 


BOYVILLE.  77 

sent  was  given  for  Bluster  to  use  force,  if  neces- 
sary to  defend  himself.  A  smile  of  satisfaction 
came  over  Bluster's  face.  A  smile  that  indicated 
that  he  had  taken  advantage  of  the  president,  and 
was  now  about  to  glory  in  it.  After  a  moments 
thought  he  said. 

*'Say,  pres.,  I  already  licked  him." 

"Who  and  what  for?"  was  asked  with  con- 
siderable surprise. 

"Fur  swearin." 

Before  he  could  explain  the  details  of  the 
case,  in  rushed  eight  or  ten  boys,  all  talking  at 
once.  Bluster  never  smiled  when  the  boys  de- 
clared he  wasn't  an  officer  and  had  no  business 
to  "take  the  law  into  his  own  hands." 

"That's  all  right,"  put  in  Bluster,  "ain't  we 
supposed  to  work  fur  each  others  good?  Well, 
an'  wasn't  I  'tendin'  to  my  own  business  on  de 
corner.  I  wus  standin'  there  crying  all  about 
de  big  fire,  when  a  man  frum  de  other  side  of  the 
street  calls  fur  me  to  come  over.  I  starts  an'  so 
does  Swipsey,  I  beats  Swipsey,  an'  sells  de  man  a 
paper,  an'  what  does  Swipsey  do?  Does  he  go 
about  his  business  ?  No,  he  told  the  man  to  go  to 
hell  and  used  other  swear  words  an'  I  saw  our 
association  wus  receiving  a  black  eye.     It's  no 


78  BOYVILLE. 

use  to  preach  to  Swipsey,  de  only  way  to  bring 
him  to  his  thinking  is  to  Hck  him.  He  knows  as 
well  as  youses  that  its  agin  de  rules  to  swear.  So 
I  punched  him.  I  turned  him  an'  rolled  him  over 
until  he  cried  enuf,  an'  promised  he  would  not 
swear  again.  Then  de  gang  came  after  me  an' 
I  runned  to  you." 

The  boys  still  declared  he  had  no  right  to  pun- 
ish Swipsey  without  permission  from  the  presi- 
dent.    Quick  as  flash  Bluster  said: 

"Say,  pres.,  didn't  I  have  permission?" 

The  president  could  do  nothing  but  back  Blus- 
ter up.  He  had  given  him  full  authority.  At 
this  juncture,  Swipsey  made  his  appearance.  His 
hair  disheveled,  face  and  hands  dirty,  and  clothes 
in  a  terrible  condition.  Swipsey  listened  to  Blus- 
ter's story  with  a  great  deal  of  patience.  He 
looked  guilty. 

"All  we  want  to  know,"  said  the  leader  of  the 
gang,  "is  whether  we  can  punish  a  boy  for  vio- 
lating the  rules,  even  if  we  are  not  officers."  That 
was  a  leading  question,  and  experience  had 
taught  the  president  that  it  was  a  very  wise  thing 
to  have  any  boy  punish  a  member,  and  in  his  own 
way.  The  only  provision  made  was  that  no  badge 
must  be  taken  away  from  a  boy  by  a  non-officer. 


BOYVILLE.  79 

Where  a  boy  cannot  be  corrected  by  a  fellow 
member,  he  must  submit  the  case  to  an  officer. 
This  was  agreed  to  and  the  boys  were  satisfied 
with  the  method  used  by  Bluster.  The  two  boys 
were  made  a  little  present,  and  they  all  left  in 
their  usual  happy  mood. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

The  more  experience  the  president  had  with 
the  street-boys,  boys  who  spent  most  of  their  time 
in  selHng  papers  or  shining  shoes,  the  greater 
his  desire  to  keep  in  close  personal  touch  with 
each  boy.  He  had  learned  that  it  was  not  wise 
to  censure  a  bad  boy,  to  punish  a  boy  who  had 
violated  any  of  the  rulesJ  That  belonged  entirely 
to  the  officers. 

Some  of  the  best  suggestions  for  gaining  the 
most  good  came  from  the  boys,  and  boys  whom 
the  general  public  would  ignore,  pay  no  attention 
to.  The  boys  were  working  out  their  own  sal- 
vation.     Solving  the   boy   problem   themselves. 

The  strongest  argument  for  self-government, 
among  boys,  was  solved  by  the  boys,  the  sellers. 
This  was  when  they  began  to  bring  to  the  presi- 
dent money  and  valuable  articles  they  found  on 
the  streets,  and  the  sincere,  earnest  request,  in 
every  case,  "to  please  find  the  owner — it  doesn't 
belong  to  me." 

It  was  through  the  honesty  of  one  of  the  hust- 
ling sellers  that  this  new  work  was  started,  which 
became  part  of  the  great  work  and  was  carried 


PRESIDENT,  I    HAVE  ALREADY   LICKED   DE   KID. 

S,-r  PoQe  77 


BOYVILLE.  8i 

on  so  successfully,  and  to  such  an  extent  that 
hundreds  of  valuable  articles,  from  fifty  cents  in 
pennies  to  a  diamond  necklace,  were  found  and 
returned  to  the  owners.  The  following  incident 
was  the  starting  point. 

A  stranger  gave  a  little  seller,  what  he  sup- 
posed was  a  new  bright  penny,  for  an  evening 
paper,  and  passed  on.  The  boy  renewed  his  work, 
and  a  few  moments  later  another  gentleman  pur- 
chased a  paper,  giving  the  boy  a  dime.  In  count- 
ing out  nine  cents,  as  change,  the  seller  handed 
the  man  the  new  penny  he  had  just  received  from 
a  stranger.    The  customer  said: 

"My  dear  son,  this  is  not  a  penny;  it  is  a  five 
dollar  goldpiece." 

'T  didn't  know  it,  sir",  replied  the  boy.  "If 
you  will  please  to  hold  my  papers  I  will  run  after 
the  man  and  try  to  find  him — this  isn't  mine." 

Around  the  corner  the  lad  went  at  full  speed. 
Up  and  down  the  street  he  looked  but  failed  to 
see  his  man.  He  returned  very  much  disap- 
pointed. 

"He's  gone,"  he  said,  "here's  your  change — 
nine  cents." 

During  this  little  talk  a  dozen  or  more  news- 
boys gathered  around  the  man  and  when  they 


82  BOYVILLE. 

learned  what  had  happened  several  of  the  boys 
said: 

"Harry,  what  you  goin'  to  do  with  the  mon.  ?" 

"Our  president  will  tell  us  what  to  do,  come 
on,"  replied  the  little  merchant. 

Off  the  crowd  started  down  the  street,  around 
the  corner  and  a  noisier  lot  of  boys  never  entered 
the  president's  office. 

Each  of  the  twenty  boys  present  wanted  to 
explain  what  he  knew  about  the  transaction. 

All  the  details  of  how  the  seller  received  the 
money,  and  how  hard  he  had  tried  to  find  the  real 
owner  were  gone  over  several  times. 

The  president  complimented  not  only  the 
boy  who  received  the  gold,  but  the  boys  who  were 
so  deeply  interested  in  trying  to  find  the  owner. 
An  appreciative  present  was  given  to  the  boy, 
and  it  was  understood  that  every  effort  possible 
would  be  made  to  find  the  owner.  When  it  was 
first  advertised  a  generous  clothier,  a  lover  of 
newsboys,  presented  the  boy  with  a  suit  of  clothes. 
After  advertising  thirty  days  and  no  owner  claim- 
ing the  five  dollars,  it  was  given  to  the  boy. 
Nothing  ever  happened  in  the  neighborhood 
where  the  newsboy  lived  that  created  such  an 
excitement.    The  newsie  posed  as  an  honest  boy. 


BOYVILLE.  83 

and  was  complimented  by  men  and  women,  as  well 
as  being  a  hero  among  the  boys  and  girls.  Its 
effect  was  far-reaching,  and  did  good  not  only 
to  the  boys,  but  it  had  a  most  desirable  effect 
upon  the  people. 

More  particularly  from  this  incident  than 
any  other  did  the  newsboys  "get  next"  and  be- 
gin bringing  to  the  president  everything  they 
found.  Among  the  articles  brought  to  him  with 
instructions  to  find  the  owners,  were  diamonds, 
watches,  money,  in  amounts  ranging  from  fifty 
cents  to  eighty  dollars ;  rings,  robes,  hats,  gloves, 
valuable  papers,  badges  of  all  kinds,  handker- 
chiefs, money-saving  banks,  hundreds  of  ad- 
dressed stamped  letters,  pictures,  pocket-books  of 
all  kinds,  keys,  etc. 

Among  the  live  things  the  boys  brought  to 
the  office  was  a  dog.  One  afternoon,  late  in  the 
autumn,  four  newsies  walked  into  the  president's 
office,  talking  and  laughing,  as  they  always  do, 
and  one  of  the  boys,  being  ''soaking  wet,"  led  a 
little  woolly  dog  who  seemed  to  enjoy  the  fun  as 
well  as  the  boys. 

"My!  how  did  you  get  so  wet?"  asked  the 
president.    "And  what  have  we  here?" 

"A  man  trowed  de  dog  into  the  river.     He 


84  BOYVILLE. 

tried  to  drown  him.  I  jumped  into  de  water 
and  saved  him." 

"Yes,  president,"  said  the  hero,  "I  thought 
it  would  please  you  to  save  the  dog's  life." 

Of  course  it  pleased  the  president,  and  the 
boys  agreed  it  was  a  very  brave  act.  This  little 
incident  had  its  effect  upon  the  boy,  and  they  al- 
ways looked  upon  him  as  a  great  fellow,  and  it 
wasn't  long  until  they  elected  him  to  an  impor- 
tant office. 

It  is  a  noticeable  fact  that  newsboys  have  a  pe- 
culiarly natural  way  of  drawing,  what  they  call, 
tramp  dogs  to  them.  Many  a  newsboy  has  been 
seen  caring  for  a  poor  dog,  who  had  either  lost 
its  owner  or  was  hurt. 

Sympathy  is  aroused  very  quickly.  Often  a 
poor,  worthless  dog  has  been  taken  into  a  seller's 
favorite  lunch-room  and  given  a  square  meal. 
From  a  boy  who  jumped  into  fifteen  feet  of  water 
to  save  a  little  dog,  something  might  be  expected. 
He  was  watched.  At  one  of  the  regular  meet- 
ings of  an  auxiliary  he  showed  the  metal  he  was 
made  of  by  introducing  the  following  preamble 
and  resolution,  and  spoke  so  strongly  in  its  favor 
that  it  was  passed  unanimously. 


BOYVILLE.  8^ 

"Whereas,  It  has  come  to  our  notice  that  boys 
throughout  the  city,  and  boys,  too,  from  our  swell  fam- 
ilies, are  killing  the  song  birds  in  the  little  patches  of 
groves  within  the  city  limits,  by  the  use  of  the  Flobert 
rifle;  therefore  be  it 

Resolved,  That  the  members  of  the  Boyville  News- 
boys' Association  bitterly  disapprove  of  this  wanton 
slaughter  of  our  song  birds,  and  we,  therefore,  pledge 
ourselves  to  do  everything  in  our  power  to  stop  boys, 
whether  members  of  this  association  or  not,  from  killing, 
in  any  manner,  these  birds." 

In  his  closing  remarks  he  said:  "If  we  ex- 
pects people  to  show  us  kindness  we  must  also 
do  something  what's  right.  And  what  can  we 
do  better'n  protect  the  dumb  animals.  Let  us 
show,  what  we  are  trying  to  get,  kindness,  jus- 
tice and  mercy." 

A  short  time  after  the  adoption  of  the  above 
resolution  one  of  the  trustees  attention  was  called 
to  a  member,  a  boy  eleven  years  of  age,  who  was 
very  much  worked  up  over  the  acts  of  some  of 
his  associates,  not  members  of  the  association. 
The  boys  had  made  a  trap  and  were  trying  to 
catch  the  robins  that  made  their  summer  homes 
in  the  yards  along  the  street. 


86  BOYVILLE. 

The  little  boy  always  told  his  mother  his 
troubles  and  in  this  case  went  to  her  for  advice. 
She  told  him  she  would  pray  that  God  would  tell 
the  birds  not  to  go  near  the  trap.  He  seemed 
satisfied,  but  went  away  deeply  buried  in  thought. 

A  few  days  later  he  was  sitting  on  the  fence, 
at  his  home,  when  the  trustee  passed.  Knowing 
of  the  incident  he  asked  the  boy  about  the  trap. 

"Well,  the  trap  was  set  all  right,"  he  said, 
"and  my  mother  prayed  hard,  asking  God  to 
strengthen  the  instinct  of  the  birds  so  they  would 
keep  out  of  danger — not  go  near  the  trap." 

"Did  God  answer  your  mother's  prayer?" 
asked  the  gentleman. 

"Sure  thing  He  did,"  the  newsy  quickly  an- 
swered. 

"Why  were  you  so  certain?" 

"Because  when  it  got  dark  I  went  to  the  barn- 
yard and  busted  the  trap  all  to  pieces.  There  was- 
n't enough  wood  left  to  make  a  tooth  pick." 

The  trustee  slowly  walked  away  saying  to 
himself : 

"Action  was  needed  with  prayer." 


CHAPTER  XV. 

The  individual  interest  in  the  monthly  aux- 
iliary meetings  developed  into  schools  of  instruct- 
ions. The  boys  began  to  learn  how  to  debate, 
how  to  make  a  motion,  to  discuss  any  subject. 

The  vice-presidents  of  each  auxiliary  took  per- 
sonal interest  in  the  details  of  the  work,  and  kept 
the  various  committees  busy. 

The  reports  at  each  meeting  showed  how  well 
the  boys  had  the  affairs  of  the  association  under 
control.  In  the  meetings,  the  entertainment  fea- 
tures were  very  interesting,  from  the  fact  that 
the  boys  themselves  prepared  the  program.  If 
it  was  necessary  to  secure  talent,  the  executive 
committee  required  each  boy,  beginning  with  the 
officers,  and  then  taking  the  names  as  the  boys 
were  registered  in  alphabetical  order  to  show 
what  he  could  do.  First  a  boy,  a  bashful  newsie, 
was  required  to  "step  forward  and  make  a  bow," 
and  after  several  pretty  rough  introductions  of 
this  nature,  it  was  always  found  that  the  victim 
began  at  once  to  prepare  something  for  the  next 
meeting.  First,  he  would  commit  a  very  short 
piece,  perhaps  two  lines,  always  selecting  some- 


88  BOYVILLE. 

thing  of  a  comical  nature.  Then  later,  of  his  own 
composition.  After  a  few  efforts  he  became  mas- 
ter of  the  platform,  and  was  generally  over  anx- 
ious to  do  something. 

It  was  surprising  the  different  talents  un- 
earthed by  this  method.  Musical  turns,  good, 
sweet  singers,  short  and  long  recitations,  orig- 
inal dialogues,  and  many  "new  stunts,"  as  termed 
by  the  boys,  when  surprised  at  what  someone 
produced. 

The  trustees  always  took  advantage  of  this 
work,  and  did  everything  to  encourage  it.  The 
talent  thus  discovered,  and  trained,  in  the  auxil- 
iaries, was  used  in  the  Sunday  afternoon  meetings 
to  great  advantage  and  honor  to  the  boys. 

At  one  of  the  Sunday  meetings  a  very  serious 
carrier  asked  the  president:  "How  can  a  boy 
avoid  being  bad  if  he  don't  know  what  bad  is?" 

"How  do  you  know  bad  money?"  asked  the 
president. 

"I  don't  know  bad  money,  I  know  good 
money." 

A  newsboy  is  never  at  a  loss  for  a  reply  to 
any  question,  and  knows  something  about  any 
subject  discussed  in  our  daily  papers.  This  boy 
further  surprised  the  president  by  saying:  "Those 


GETTING   FAMILIAR  WITH  THE  HEADLINES. 


DIS  HERE  IS  DE  DOG. 


See  Page  SS 


BOYVILLE.  89 

who  are  thoroughly  skilled  in  navigation  are  as 
well  acquainted  with  the  coasts  of  the  ocean,  with 
the  sands,  the  shallow  places,  and  the  rocks  as  the 
secure  depths  in  the  safest  channels,  and  good 
boys  must  as  well  know  the  bad  that  they  may 
avoid  it  as  the  good  that  they  may  embrace  it." 

This  boy  occupied  a  front  row  for  many 
months  in  all  entertainments,  and  when  a  speaker 
interested  him  he  paid  very  close  attention.  One 
time  a  very  good  minister  was  talking  over  the 
heads  of  the  boys,  preaching  a  sermon  they  could 
not  understand.  This  little  fellow,  with  his  ever 
serious  look,  cried  out: 

"Say,  mister,  can't  you  cut  some  of  that  out  ?" 

It  had  its  effect,  much  to  the  embarrassment 
of  the  good  divine. 

It  is  one  of  the  most  difficult  things  in  the  ora- 
torical world  for  any  one  to  entertain  newsboys. 
A  speaker  must  not  talk  over  them.  /He  must 
become  as  a  child  and  talk  as  a  child,  and  he  will 
be  surprised  to  see  what  a  good  effect  it  has  upon 
the  boys,  j  One  time  a  very  nervous  boy,  a  seller 
from  the  avenue,  became  quite  noisy  and  restless 
in  the  seat  he  generally  occupied.  The  president 
observing  this  asked  him  if  he  would  like  a  seat 
in  the  front  row. 


90  BOYVILLE. 

"Sure  thing,  I'll  *tend  every  Sunday  if  you 
give  me  this  seat/'  pointing  to  a  chair  next  to 
a  post,  where  the  president  imagined  he  wanted 
to  rest  his  head. 

"It  doesn't  make  any  difference  what  boy  oc- 
cupies this  seat,"  said  the  president  to  "Front 
row  Art,"  as  he  is  called,  "I  want  you  to  get  the 
seat.  I  don't  care  what  we  are  doing  on  the 
platform." 

One  Sunday  when  the  house  was  crowded  to 
the  doors,  Art's  seat  was  occupied  by  a  boy  about 
fourteen  years  of  age,  and  much  stronger  than 
Art.  While  the  speaker,  a  minister,  was  praying, 
the  president  saw  Art  at  the  door.  He  saw  him 
push  his  way  through  the  crowd  and  when  at  the 
platform,  he  took  the  boy,  who  occupied  his  chair, 
by  the  back  of  his  neck  and  gave  him  such  a  shove 
along  the  seats  that  the  young  man  was  glad  to 
reach  the  other  end  of  the  row.  Art  sat  down, 
folded  his  arms,  put  his  feet  upon  the  platform, 
and  eyed  the  speaker  as  if  he  had  been  there  all 
the  time. 

Art  was  always  ready  with  a  smart  answer 
to  any  question  put  to  the  boys.  Even  if  his  at- 
tention was  directed  to  another  part  of  the  house, 
his  little  fingers  were  snapping,  indicating  his 


BOYVILLE.  91 

readiness  to  answer.  His  replies,  while  not  al- 
ways pertinent,  gave  the  speaker  a  fair  warning 
not  to  be  too  familiar  in  asking  questions. 

Art  had  a  companion  who  was  known  as 
"Splinter,"  on  account  of  his  being  rather  slim, 
but  no  boy  of  his  age,  twelve  years,  ever  had  so 
many  new  movements  as  Splinter.  He  was  never 
quiet,  not  so  noisy,  but  continually  annoying  the 
boy  who  sat  next  to  him.  To  take  a  companion's 
hat  and  throw  it  across  the  room,  while  some 
good  minister  was  praying,  was  of  frequent  oc- 
currence. He  would  answer  questions  without 
raising  his  hand,  and  would  give  the  boy  sitting 
next  to  him  a  knock  of  some  kind  before  he  stood 
up.  With  all  this  restlessness  he  was  one  of  the 
best-hearted  boys  among  the  sellers.  There  was 
something  in  him  that  the  president  concluded 
he  could  not  afford  to  lose  sight  of — just  what 
that  was  did  not  develop  enough  to  encourage. 

At  one  of  the  Sunday  meetings  there  was  a 
speaker  who  knew  how  to  hold  the  boys  when 
asking  questions.  He  had  them  perfectly  quiet 
and  recognized  no  answer  unless  the  boy  raised 
his  hand. 

He  asked  a  question  which  required  as  an  an- 
swer a  verse  in  the  Bible.     To  the  president's 


92  BOYVILLE. 

embarrassment,  "Splinter's"  hand  was  high  above 
the  others  and  he  kept  a  continual  snapping  of 
his  fingers.  He  was  determined  to  be  recognized. 
The  president  was  in  hopes  the  speaker  would 
pay  no  attention  to  him,  fearing  the  reply  would 
spoil  the  effect  of  the  speaker's  talk.  However 
"Splinter"  managed  to  be  heard. 

"That  tall  boy  may  answer,"  said  the  min- 
ister. 

The  sweat  rolled  down  the  president's  fore- 
head as   he  tried   to  get  back  into   his   chair. 

"Splinter"  arose,  not  a  smile  on  his  face.  He 
looked  serious,  and  without  a  quiver  in  his  voice 
repeated,  word  for  word,  one  of  the  longest  ver- 
ses in  the  Bible,  and  which  gave  an  appropriate 
answer. 

The  speaker  looked  as  surprised  as  the  presi- 
dent, and  the  compliment  he  gave  the  boy  was  ap- 
preciated by  all. 

"Splinter's"  education,  after  that,  was  looked 
after. 


CHAPTER  XVL 

An  interesting  case  came  to  the  president 
showing  how  one  family  can  disgrace  an  entire 
neighborhood;  can  give  a  bad  name  to  a  whole 
street.  On  one  of  the  small  narrow  streets 
within  the  two-mile  circle,  lived  a  family,  man 
woman  and  five  boys.  One  of  the  boys,  a  young 
man,  served  a  term  in  the  penitentiary  for  rob- 
bery. The  names  of  two  of  them  appeared  on  the 
police  station  blotter  about  three  times  a  year  for 
drunkenness.  It  was  on  account  of  these  boys  that 
the  neighborhood  gained  such  a  bad  reputation. 
The  other  two  boys,  John  and  Tom,  ages  nine  and 
twelve,  were  newsboys.  Boys  who  were  driven 
from  home,  by  the  parents,  "to  get  something  to 
eat  elsewhere."  They  frequently  slept  in  stair- 
ways, old  buildings,  cellar-ways  or  any  place 
where  they  could  find  shelter  from  the  storms,  or 
where  they  thought  they  would  not  be  disturbed. 
These  two  newsboys  were  doing  more  to  ruin  boys 
on  the  street  than  the  entire  membership  of  the 
association,  and  when  they  came  into  the  presi- 
dent's office  seeking  admission,  the  president  con- 
cluded that  if  these  boys  could  be  saved,  and 


94  BOYVILLE. 

their  bad  acts  turned  into  good,  Boyville  would 
be  a  success.  It  wasn't  necessary  to  ask  them  if 
they  were  eHgible  to  membership,  if  they  sold  pa- 
pers, if  they  were  newsboys.  Every  word,  every 
act  told  all  that  was  required.  With  all  the  rags, 
and  dirt,  and  slang  talk,  these  boys  were  up-to- 
date  in  everything.  All  the  leading  topics  of  the 
day  were  discussed  by  them.  Every  base-ball 
player  they  knew  by  name,  and  it  was  discovered 
that  all  newsies  followed  them  when  they  wanted 
to  get  into  a  ball-ground  free,  or  into  a  circus. 
They  had  their  own  way,  and  without  money. 
They  feared  nothing.  They  worked  for  them- 
selves only.  The  little  sympathy  they  had  for  any 
one  was  drowned  in  their  eagerness  to  move  on. 
They  gave  no  thought  for  the  morrow.  There  was 
no  hesitancy  by  the  officers  in  giving  these  boys 
membership  cards,  and  when  they  received  them, 
to  the  question,  "Well,  now  boys,  what  does  this 
mean?"  they  answered: 

"We  mean  to  lick  any  one  as  doesn't  do  right." 
The  vice-president,  a  smart  young  man  with 
the  courage  of  a  lion,  went  to  the  boys'  home  to 
make  an  investigation  of  how  they  lived,  and  why 
they  were  so  bad  when  on  the  streets.  Here  is 
what  he  discovered: 


BOYVILLE.  95 

They  lived  in  a  small  cottage  and  with  a  man 
and  woman  who  were  not  their  parents.  Their 
own  father  had  died  leaving  several  valuable 
pieces  of  property  to  his  wife,  who  was  again 
married  within  a  year,  and  to  a  man  who  soon 
lost  all  the  property,  having  spent  the  money  for 
liquor.  The  mother  died,  and  her  husband  again 
married  in  less  than  a  month,  and  to  a  woman 
who  drank  as  much  as  he  did.  This  was  the  home 
of  the  two  newsboys. 

'They  both  went  to  bed,  nearly  every  night, 
with  their  clothes  on,"  said  the  officer,  "and  what 
the  boys  had  to  eat  wasn't  fit  for  a  dog." 

The  case  was  left  entirely  in  the  hands  of  the 
young  officers  with  instructions  to  report  within 
a  month.  In  less  than  the  appointed  time  a  re- 
port was  made.  The  two  newsboys  were  brought 
into  the  president's  office,  each  having  on  a  nice 
suit  of  clothes,  their  faces  and  hands  clean,  and 
their  general  appearance  and  deportment  remark- 
ably improved. 

"What  did  you  do?"  was  asked  the  officer. 

"We  went  to  the  house  and  demanded  that  the 
boys  receive  care  and  attention  for  what  they 
were  doing — they  were  bringing  into  the  house 
from  fifty  to  sixty  cents  a  day  earned  by  selling 


96  BOYVILLE. 

papers.  And  instead  of  the  drunken  man  and 
woman  spending  this  for  whiskey,  we  made  them 
buy  good  things  to  eat.  A  retail  clothier  gave  us 
the  suits  of  clothes,  and  the  boys  are  simply  good, 
and  are  working  their  way  on  the  streets." 

While  the  boys  were  working  on  this  case  the 
president  reported  to  the  humane  officer  the  con- 
dition of  things  at  this  home,  and  in  a  very  short 
time  the  family  was  quite  respectable  and  the  boys 
attending  school.  To  the  president,  remarkable 
as  seemed  the  turning  of  two  bad  boys  into  good, 
honest  little  sellers,  the  work  of  the  two  officers  of 
the  association  with  the  parents  was  even  more 
so. 

Self-governing  boys.  Boys  whom  we  think 
can  do  nothing,  and  seldom  trust,  for  fear  of  fail- 
ing, and  yet  they  brought  in  line  two  of  the  worst 
cases  Boyville  had  experienced. 

As  the  weeks  passed  the  two  boys  became  fav- 
orites among  their  little  friends. 

One  afternoon  about  six  or  eight  months  after 
the  two  boys  became  members,  one  of  them,  the 
younger,  came  running  into  the  president's  office, 
holding  a  roll  of  bills  in  his  hand.  Everybody  had 
to  get  out  of  the  way.    He  was  followed  by  the 


BOYVILLE.  97 

"gang,"  some  twenty  boys,  all  looking  at  the  little 
fellow  with  wonderment. 

"See,  here,  pres.,  what  I  found,"  he  said,  lay- 
ing fifteen  dollars  on  the  desk.  "I  found  this  at 
the  post-office." 

"And  what  do  you  want  me  to  do  with  this  ?" 
asked  the  president.  "I  wants  you  to  find  the 
owner.    That's  what." 

"Well,  why  didn't  you  blow  it  in  ?  My !  what 
a  fortune  you  have." 

"Blow  it  in?  Would  that  be  honest?  No,  sir, 
as  soon  as  I  found  de  dough  I  broughts  it  to  you 
to  tell  us  what  we  must  do  wid  it,  see?" 

"That's  all  right,"  said  the  president,  "and 
you  are  teaching  us  all  a  good  lesson.  How  often 
we  say;  'it  is  just  like  finding  it.'  and  even  grown 
people  wish  they  could  find  money,  and  would  they 
turn  it  over  to  someone,  and  ask  him  to  please 
find  the  owner  ?  Not  that  they  would  think  they 
were  doing  anything  wrong  by  keeping  what  they 
found;  they  simply  never  thought  of  trying  to 
find  the  owner.  You  have  done  a  great  thing, 
and  here  is  a  bright,  new  dollar,  for  your  honesty. 
I  will  advertise  this  in  the  daily  papers  for  thirty 
days,  and  if  I  can't  find  the  owner,  it  shall  all  go  to 
you." 


98  BOYVILLE. 

Proudly  they  walked  out  of  the  office,  all  try- 
ing to  get  closer  to  the  happy  finder,  the  honest 
boy. 

The  money  was  advertised,  and  in  a  few  days 
the  rightful  owner  was  found.  He  wanted  to  see 
the  newsboy.  For  his  honesty  he  presented  him 
with  five  dollars,  adding:  "In  six  months  I  want 
to  see  you  in  this  hotel.  In  one  year  if  you  are 
reported  all  right  by  the  officers  of  the  association 
I  want  you  to  write  me  at  this  address."  And  he 
handed  him  his  card,  which  gave  Indianapolis, 
Indiana,  as  his  home.  Six  months  passed.  The 
boy  met  him  in  the  hotel.  The  officers  reported 
that  he  was  one  of  the  finest  and  best  boys  on  the 
street.  A  year  passed,  and  one  day  he  received 
a  letter  requesting  him  to  ''take  the  next  train  for 
Indianapolis,  provided  the  president  of  Boyville 
says  you  do  not  swear,  steal,  lie  or  smoke  cigar- 
ettes." 

The  president  could  truthfully  vouch  for  all 
these,  and  the  boy  was  sent  to  his  new  home. 
Seven  years  have  passed,  and  that  boy  today  is 
foreman  of  one  of  the  largest  manufacturing  in- 
stitutions in  the  state  of  Indiana. 

What  effect  did  the  good  work  of  these  two 


/" 


BOYVILLE.  99 

boys  have  upon  the  family?  It  caused  them  to 
stand  on  the  street  posing  as  relatives  to  two  hon- 
est boys. 

Does  it  pay  to  take  an  interest  in  a  bad  boy  ? 

A  boy  of  eleven  years  of  age  made  application 
to  become  a  member.  He  was  approved  by  the 
proper  officers.  A  sealed  note  accompanied  the 
application.  It  read:  "He  is  accused  of  giving 
wrong  change  to  customers,  and  runs  away  with 
money." 

As  soon  as  he  received  his  membership  card, 
and  badge,  and  left  the  president's  office  two  offi- 
cers were  on  his  track.  They  watched  him  sell 
papers.  Three  days  passed  when  he  "stumbled 
against  something."  A  gentleman  in  the  post- 
office  gave  him  twenty-five  cents  for  a  morning 
paper.  He  had  no  change,  but  excused  himself 
to  "step  across  the  way  to  get  it."  Instead  of 
going  into  the  store  the  little  boy  started  in  a  run 
around  the  building  and  was  lost  from  sight. 
The  gentleman  made  this  remark  to  a  friend :  "I 
might  of  expected  it."  This  was  overheard  by 
two  newsboys.  One  said :  "Oh,  no  mister,  your 
money  is  not  lost.  We'll  have  it  for  you  in  ten 
minutes.  Don't  you  be  uneasy.  You  stand  right 
where  you  are  for  a  few  minutes." 


100  BOYVILLE. 

Out  ran  the  boys,  one  going  to  the  right,  the 
other  to  the  left,  and  a  third  joined  them  who  took 
to  the  alley.  In  less  than  ten  minutes  the  boy  was 
brought  to  bay,  and  appeared  before  the  gentle- 
man. 

An  apology  was  given,  the  money  returned. 

"Don't  you  say  anything  to  him,"  said  one  of 
the  newsboys,  "we  won't  do  a  thing  to  him,  oh, 
no."  The  man  soon  forgot  the  incident,  and  will 
never  know  the  severe  punishment  that  boy  had 
to  bear.  They  took  him  in  the  alley,  bumped  his 
head  against  the  wall  of  the  building,  rolled  him 
in  the  mud,  took  his  badge  from  him  and  with  a 
parting  word  of  advice  left  him.  The  badge  was 
turned  over  to  the  president  with  instructions  to 
return  it  to  the  boy  at  the  expiration  of  fifteen 
days.  What  for?  The  president  did  not  know 
and  only  learned  the  particulars  a  month  later 
from  one  of  the  officers.  The  boy  called  for  his 
badge,  and  it  was  given  to  him  without  a  word. 

The  books  show  that  this  same  boy,  after  leav- 
ing the  junior  grade  in  school  procured  a  good 
position  and  the  proprietor  particularly  called 
attention  to  him  for  a  peculiar  trait.  He  said: 
"The  boy  applied  for  work,  office  work.  We  gave 
him  a  job.    He  asked  particularly  how  many 


BOYVILLE.  loi 

hours  he  must  work.  When  he  began  and  when 
he  stopped.  This  given,  we  were  surprised  to 
see  that  he  was  at  the  office  every  morning  two 
hours  before  his  time,  and  pegging  away  at  a 
typewriter.  His  wages  have  been  increased 
three  times.  He'll  be  one  of  the  firm  before  we're 
through  with  him. 

*The  only  recommendation  he  had  was  that 
he  was  a  member  of  The  Boyville  Newsboys'  As- 
sociation— and  this  we  took.  In  fact,  it  proved 
a  better  recommendation  than  that  offered  by  his 
mother,  who  called  to  get  part  of  his  wages  to 
purchase  whiskey." 


TA  RT    FOUR  T  H 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

It  was  just  before  Christmas;  the' streets  and 
stores  were  crowded  with  people  purchasing  pres- 
ents. 

An  old  lady  was  standing  on  the  corner  wait- 
ing for  a  street  car.  In  her  hand  she  held  a  small 
package,  a  Christmas  present  for  someone.  A 
boy,  about  fourteen  years  of  age,  darted  out  from 
a  door-way,  grabbed  the  package,  hastened  down 
the  street  and  dodged  into  an  alley.  A  newsboy 
who  saw  the  act  started  after  the  thief,  and  as  he 
ran  several  other  newsboys  joined  in  the  chase. 
While  they  were  gone  another  newsboy  went  to 
the  lady  expressing  regret  at  her  loss,  but  assur- 
ing her  the  boy  who  stole  the  package  would  be 
caught 

With  tears  in  her  eyes  the  old  lady  told  the 
boy  that  the  box  contained  a  number  of  presents 
for  a  little  girl  who  was  confined  to  the  house 
on  account  of  being  a  cripple  for  life.  That  the 
purchase  was  the  result  of  many  weeks'  hard 
work,  sewing  for  some  of  her  neighbors,  that  she 
might  earn  the  money  to  get  a  present  for  the 
little  girl. 


io6  BOYVILLE. 

"Now,  my  lady,"  said  the  newsboy,  "don't 
you  worry  for  a  minute,  one  of  our  officers  star- 
ted in  a  dead  run  after  him  and  I  know  he  will 
catch  him.  We  don't  allow  anything  like  that  to 
happen.  That  boy  don't  belong  to  the  associa- 
tion." 

The  lady  was  escorted  to  a  drug  store  where 
people  wait  for  cars,  and  advised  to  remain  there 
until  the  newsboys  returned.  She  did  not  have 
to  wait  long,  for,  in  a  short  time,  the  officer  re- 
turned with  a  dozen  newsies  all  trying  to  push 
the  "grafter"  ahead  of  them.  When  in  front  of 
the  lady,  he  was  made  to  hand  her  the  package, 
and  get  down  upon  his  knees  and  ask  her  forgive- 
ness. The  old  lady  was  placed  upon  a  street-car, 
and  the  officers  took  charge  of  the  boy.  They 
brought  him  to  the  president's  office. 

"Mr.  President,"  said  a  member  of  the  ex- 
ecutive committee,  "we  have  here  a  new  boy.  He 
was  pretending  to  sell  papers  on  the  streets,  but 
he  proved  to  be  a  'grafter,'  for  we  caught  him 
stealing  a  package  from  an  old  lady  who  worked 
all  summer  to  save  money  to  buy  a  Christmas 
present  for  a  little  girl  who  is  a  cripple.  We  run 
him  down."  The  boy  hung  his  head.  He  was 
under  no  obligations  to  any  of  the  boys,  and  could 


BOYVILLE.  107 

have  been  independant  over  his  capture  but  when 
he  was  told  the  package  belonged  to  a  little  crip- 
ple, it  had  a  strange  effect  upon  him.  He  lost 
sight  of  everything  but  the  wrong  done  to  the 
little  girl. 

"I  didn't  know  it  belonged  to  a  cripple  or  I 
wouldn't  have  taken  it.  You  see,  we  at  home  don't 
think  nothing  of  taking  things  as  we  can  get,  we 
believe  in  helping  ourselves  to  anything  we  wants 
when  no  body  is  looking.  I  am  sorry  I  took  the 
present." 

The  boy  lived  in  a  bad  neighborhood.  His 
father  was  dead,  his  mother  had  no  influence  over 
him,  he  roamed  the  streets  at  will,  and  spent  the 
majority  of  his  nights  sleeping  in  freight-cars. 
He  was  just  the  kind  of  a  boy  who  grows  up 
along  the  docks  of  our  lake  cities,  and  takes  ad- 
vantage of  every  opportunity  to  steal  anything 
he  can  use  or  care  for  without  being  detected, 
from  freight  depots  or  cars.  This  is  the  class  of 
young  men  the  association  has  been  aiming  to 
reach  for  a  long  time.  The  selling  of  papers  be- 
ing only  a  subterfuge  for  stealing.  He  was  fif- 
teen years  old  and  admitted  having  done  many 
bad  things. 

"It  is  boys  like  you,"  said  the  president,  "who 


io8  BOYVILLE. 

disgrace  any  association,  and  while  no  one  seems 
to  look  after  you,  or  want  you,  we  will  take  you 
into  the  association  and  the  officers  will  have  you 
under  their  charge ;  what  do  you  say  to  that  ?" 

"Well,  I  guess  you  have  me  down  pretty  fine, 
and  if  I  wants  to  ever  get  a  job  I  must  start  my 
life  over  again." 

"The  boys  will  forget  this  little  package  act, 
and  blot  out  all  your  bad  deeds,  if  you  will  begin 
a  new  life,  and  I  will  guarantee  that  in  six 
months,  by  the  time  warm  weather  comes,  we 
will  get  you  a  nice  position." 

"If  I  would  have  known  that  package  be- 
longed to  a  little  girl  do  you  suppose  I  would  have 
swiped  it  ?"  he  added. 

"It  isn't  that  alone  we  object  to.  Every  time 
you  steal  something  someone  suffers,  and  the  only 
way  to  avoid  injuring  any  one  is  not  to  steal  at 
all,"  said  the  president. 

"Aw !  tell  him  to  cut  it  out,  cut  it  out,  he  kin 
do  it  just  the  same  as  we  do,"  put  in  a  little  boot- 
black. 

"Yes,  but  you  don't  have  to  go  out  on  the 
street  and  takes  what  ever  you  kin  carry  home, 
like  I  do,"  he  replied. 


BOYVILLE.  109 

"Well,  if  your  mother  makes  you  do  that  we 
won't  do  a  thing  to  her,"  said  a  seller,  who 
claimed  to  own  four  corners. 

The  conversation  ended  by  the  president  giv- 
ing the  new  boy  a  membership  card  with  instruct- 
tions  that  he  must  report  in  thirty  days. 

Soon  after  he  left  the  office,  three  members 
of  the  executive  committee  hastened  to  his  home. 
The  mother  was  warned  that  "this  sending  your 
boy  out  to  steal  must  stop,  and  stop  quick."  They 
listened  to  no  arguments,  simply  gave  advice  and 
orders,  what  must  be  done,  and  left. 

A  month  passes  and  the  day  named  for  the 
new  applicant  to  receive  his  badge,  found  him  at 
the  president's  office,  as  is  usual  with  boys,  an 
hour  before  office  hours. 

"Gee,  but  I  have  lots  of  good  friends.  Some 
of  the  boys  took  me  to  see  a  show,  some  let  me 
sell  papers  on  their  corners,  but  I  had  to  cut  out 
swearing." 

The  numbered  badge  was  given  him. 

A  member  of  the  executive  committee  who 
had  him  in  charge  reported : 

"He  was  hard  to  bring  down  to  our  way  of 
doin'  things.  It  was  natural  for  him  to  steal  as 
to  eat,  and  he  wanted  to  give  the  wrong  change 


no  BOYVILLE. 

two  or  three  times.  We  licked  him  three  times. 
He  was  game.  Give  him  his  badge,  he's  all 
right." 

Six  months  later  this  boy  was  given  a  posi- 
tion in  a  wholesale  house.  He  began  on  the  top 
floor  to  work  his  way  up  in  the  business. 

His  eagerness  to  learn,  his  willingness  to  do 
things  not  exactly  as  part  of  his  duties  caused 
his  employers  to  notice  him  and  he  was  advanced, 
in  less  than  two  years,  to  shipping  clerk  in  one 
of  the  departments. 

Here  was  a  boy  whose  home  life  was  de- 
grading. His  neighbors  paying  no  attention  to 
him  or  his  family,  except  to  say :  "That  boy  ought 
to  be  turned  over  to  the  police."  The  newsboys, 
the  boys  we  often  look  upon  as  being  bad  and 
useless,  changed  the  life  of  this  young  man. 

He  is  now  slowly  becoming  one  of  the  re- 
liable business  men  of  the  future. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

The  president  was  about  to  board  a  street- 
car for  home  one  evening,  when  a  dozen  news- 
boys came  running  towards  him,  calHng  him  to 
"come  here." 

"Bundle  found  fifty-six  dollars,"  was  heard 
from  a  bunch  of  sellers.  The  president,  of  course 
had  to  return  to  his  office. 

Bundle  was  a  little  round,  red-faced  boy,  who 
always  wore  a  large  scarf  around  his  neck,  and 
in  most  any  kind  of  weather.  The  sellers  were 
not  surprised  at  any  of  their  number  finding 
money  but,  said  a  bootblack : 

"What's  going  to  happen  when  slow-pokey 
Bundle  finds  something?"  But  he  did,  and  at 
the  enterance  of  one  of  the  largest  buildings  in 
the  city. 

"There  it  was,"  said  Bundle,  "all  wide  open 
before  my  eyes,  I  stumbled  over  it  and  the  money 
scattered.    Didn't  it  Sam?" 

There  was  nothing  in  the  roll  to  indicate 
its  owner.  Some  one  accustomed  to  carrying 
money  in  his  vest  pocket  had  lost  it.  As  soon  as 
Bundle  picked  it  up,  he  called  to  the  boys  across 


112  BOYVILLE. 

the  street  and  on  the  corners.  A  dozen  boys  an- 
swered him,  and  they  all  marched  towards  the 
president's  office.  Each  boy  had  something  to  say. 

"Say,  pres.,  we  come  near  losing  you,  didn't 
we?"  said  Bundle,  "but  if  you  did  go  home  I 
would  have  stayed  up  all  night  holding  the  dough 
until  you  come  to  your  office." 

Bundle  was  rewarded,  his  companions  were 
as  delighted  as  he  was.  A  happier  lot  of  boys 
never  walked  the  streets  than  these  sellers. 

The  next  morning,  Bundle,  with  five  other 
boys  came  into  the  office,  their  faces  were  long; 
Bundle  looked  sad. 

"Bundle  got  a  licking,"  said  one  of  the  boys 
looking  sympathetically  at  Bundle.  The  presi- 
dent looked  surprised. 

"Got  a  Hcking,  and  what  for?" 

"His  mother  licked  him  because  he  brought 
the  money  to  you.  She  said  it  belonged  to  her  and 
she  could  spend  it  as  she  liked." 

It  was  a  fact  that  Bundle  was  severely  pun- 
ished. 

"All  the  boys  on  the  street  saw  me  get  a  whip- 
ping," said  Bundle,  "and  I  don't  like  it." 

The  boys  were  assured  that  all  would  come 
out  right  in  the  end.     "You  just  wait  imtil  we 


FI  UK-TOP. 


.SV^  Pa_s:e  117 


BOYVILLE.  113 

hear  from  the  advertisement  we  put  in  the  pa- 
pers," said  the  president. 

The  boys  were  soon  playing  upon  the  street. 
-  A  prominent  clothier  saw  the  notice  of  the  boy 
finding  the  money  and  his  desire  to  seek  the 
owner.  He  wrote  the  president:  "If  you  will 
send  that  honest  boy  to  me  I  will  present  him 
with  the  best  suit  of  clothes  in  my  store." 

The  mother  accompanied  Bundle  to  the  store 
and  not  only  did  he  receive  a  new  suit  of  clothes 
but  an  overcoat  as  well. 

Within  forty-eight  hours  after  the  find  was 
advertised  the  rightful  owner  appeared,  received 
the  money,  and  presented  the  boy  with  a  five 
dollar  bill  and  a  good  watch. 

"Keep  this  watch  to  remind  you  that  if  you 
will  follow  up  your  honest  beginning,  you  will 
not  only  be  a  rich  man,  but  a  good  one." 

The  object  of  relating  this  incident  is  the 
sequel. 

The  big  head-line  compliments  in  the  news- 
papers; the  many  little  presents  and  congratula- 
tions Bundle  received  had  a  surprising  effect 
upon  his  mother.  She  was  proud  of  being  the 
boy's  mother.    Her  sons  and  daughters  posed  on 


1 14  BOYVILLE. 

the   corners   and   pointed   with    pride   to    their 
brother. 

Not  only  did  this  act  have  a  good  effect  on 
the  boy  and  the  family,  but  upon  the  entire  street, 
as  the  remark  is  often  heard,  "this  is  the  street 
that  has  the  honest  newsboy." 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

There  are  many  interesting  cases  coming  to 
''the  attention  of  persons  interested  in  newsboys, 
and  they  all  have  a  tendency  to  awaken  sym- 
pathy. 

Two  little  boys,  ages  nine  and  ten,  were 
brought  to  the  president  one  morning  by  an  offi- 
cer of  the  association.  They  were  accused  of 
fighting,  "almost  to  a  finish." 

Between  sobs  and  tears  they  both  tried  to 
tell  why  they  were  fighting.  While  telling  their 
story,  a  boy  about  fourteen  years  of  age  entered 
the  office.  He  was  also  crying,  but  more  serious- 
ly. The  president  turned  to  him  and  sympa- 
thetically asked,  "what  is  the  matter?"  With 
his  hands  rubbing  his  eyes  he  answered:  "One 
of  the  newsies  run  out  of  the  alley  and  throwed 
my  papers  into  the  gutter  and  they're  all  spoiled." 

"Where  did  the  boy  go?" 

"He  runned  away  and  left  me  alone." 

"How  many  papers  had  you?" 

"I  had  four." 

The  two  boys  that  were  crying,  forgot 
their  troubles  and  became  interested  in  the  other 


ii6  BOYVILLE. 


boy.  Calling  the  two  boys,  the  president  asked 
them  if  they  would  run  out  and  try  to  find  the  bad 
boy  who  threw  the  papers  in  the  street.  Of  course 
they  were  delighted  to  go.  Taking  the  crying 
fourteen-year-old  newsboy  by  the  hand,  the  little 
fellows  left  the  office. 

After  waiting  an  hour,  and  no  signs  of  the 
boys  returning,  the  president  went  upon  the  street 
and  to  his  surprise  saw  the  two  little  boys,  who 
were  to  hunt  down  the  villian,  playing  together. 

"Well,  what  was  done  with  the  boy  who  ru- 
ined Joe's  stock  of  papers ;  did  you  find  them  ?" 

"You  see,  we  went  to  the  alley,  we  looked 
ebery  place  fur  the  kid  as  what  threw  de  papers 
into  de  gutter,  but  he  had  skipped.  So  me  an' 
Skinny  talked  it  over  quickly  an'  we  just  gave  Joe 
eight  cents  an'  told  him  to  go  home,  to  fade  away, 
to  forget  it.  As  de  case  wus  settled  we  thought 
it  no  use  ter  bother  you  wid  dis  trouble,  an'  we 
resumed  our  bizness." 

Certainly  a  new  way  of  settling  troubles. 

There  is  a  small  boy  who  has  the  reputation 
of  being  a  little  boss  in  the  territory  in  which  he 
sells,  owing  to  his  desire  to  settle  all  disputes  in 
his  own  way.    He  goes  upon  the  idea  that  it  is 


BOYVILLE.  117 

absolutely  necessary  to  resort  to  pretty  severe 
punishment  to  gain  a  point. 

One  evening  a  boy  about  fifteen  years  of  age 
came  into  the  office,  crying  as  a  boy  only  can ;  the 
tears  found  considerable  trouble  in  working 
their  way  down  his  cheeks,  making  his  face  look 
as  if  furrows  were  established  for  a  time  at  least. 
On  the  left  side  of  his  forehead  were  several  clear 
spots,  round  in  shape,  which  he  pointed  to  with 
considerable  feeling.  The  president's  sympathy 
was  aroused,  and  to  the  question,  how  he  was 
hurt,  he  replied: 

"Firetop-  -licked-  -me.  He-  -hit-  -me-  -with- 
his-  -fist." 

Firetop  was  not  over  nine  years  of  age,  and 
the  president  knew  of  his  fighting  qualities,  but 
somehow  no  one  ever  presented  any  charges 
worthy  of  investigation.  His  name,  the  boys 
said,  "came  to  him  on  account  of  his  red  hair." 
His  reputation  for  honesty  was  never  questioned. 
He  was  simply  a  fighter.  He  was  one  of  the  most 
successful  sellers  on  the  street.  Because  he  was 
a  "pusher,  he  went  every  place,  and  asked  every 
person  he  met  to  buy  a  paper."  While  the  boy 
was    telling    his    story,    three    other    members 


ii8  BOYVILLE. 

dropped  into  the  office.  They  stood  for  sometime 
looking  at  the  poor  boy. 

"Do  you  boys  know  Firetop?"  asked  the  presi- 
dent. 

"Certainly,  we  all  know  him." 

**Well,  you  go  out  and  try  to  find  him  and  tell 
him  I  want  him  to  come  here  immediately." 

Out  the  boys  went  and  when  on  the  sidewalk 
started  in  different  directions  to  find  Firetop. 
Ten  minutes  passed  when  Firetop  came  running 
into  the  office.  The  boys  had  found  him  but  he 
was  too  fleet  of  foot  for  them. 

"Pres.,  they  tell  me  you  wants  me,  what  fur?" 

"Look  at  that  boy's  face,"  said  the  president, 
pointing  to  the  injured  lad  who  began  to  cry  in 
earnest. 

'T  see  it.  I  did  it.  But  say,  kid"  turning  to 
the  boy,  "what  did  I  do  it  fur.  Look  up  at  me; 
say,  what  did  I  do  it  fur  ?" 

"For  nothin',"  came  a  faint  reply. 

"Come  off,  I  hain't  going  'round  doin'  things 
fur  nothin'.  Answer  me,  you  kin  talk,  what  did 
I  do  it  fur?" 

No  reply. 

"Didn't  I  punch  you  fur  swearing  at  a  lady?" 


BOYVILLE.  119 

It  was  some  moments  before  the  boy  answered, 
and  he  drawled  out,  "yes." 

Firetop  then  told  the  story.  The  boy  was 
selling  papers  on  the  street,  he  asked  a  lady  to 
buy  a  paper,  and  because  she  refused  he  swore 
at  her,  using  language  seldom  seen  in  print. 

'T  heard  it,  an'  I  told  him  it  was  against  the 
rules,  an'  if  he  didn't  cut  it  out  I  would  punk  him. 
What  did  he  do  but  swore  at  me.  He  violated 
the  rules  before  my  face.  I  punked,  gently  at 
first,  an'  then  I  punked  him  again.  He  ran  into 
the  alley,  I  followed  him,  an'  de  boys  come  from 
the  street,  I  told  them  he  was  my  game,  an'  I 
punked  him  again.  I  told  all  the  boys  I  would 
punk  de  gang  ef  they  came  to  help  him.  Say, 
pres.,  wasn't  I  right  in  punking  him?"  The  boy 
acknowledged  he  swore  and  Firetop  kept  at  him 
until  he  promised  he  would  never  do  it  again. 
This  was  accomplished  with  very  little  trouble. 
The  boy's  face  was  washed  and  as  there  was  no 
traces  of  a  wound  the  matter  was  amicably  set- 
tled.   The  boys  left  the  office,  good  friends. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

This  incident  recalls  another  case  of 
swearing,  and  the  peculiar  method  adopted 
to  correct  a  boy,  as  well  as  to  influence  a 
family  to  train  their  son  in  the  right  path. 
One  reason  why  so  many  boys  swear  is  be- 
cause they  constantly  hear  men  swear  on  the 
streets.  At  Sunday-school  the  boy  learns  that 
he  is  violating  one  of  the  commandments.  But 
men  pay  no  attention  to  it,  then  why  should  boys  ? 
Boys  are  imitative.  They  want  to  do  what  men 
do.  It  is  seldom  that  we  hear  of  a  mother  ap- 
proving of  her  boy  swearing  and  encouraging 
him  in  this,  certainly  vulgar  habit.  This  method 
used  by  the  president  in  curing  a  boy  of  swearing, 
may  not  meet  the  approval  of  many  of  our  Sun- 
day-school teachers,  and  it  is  given  with  some 
reluctance.  It  is  given,  however,  to  show  what 
can  be  done  in  extreme  cases. 

"Are  you  the  president  of  the  Newsboys'  as- 
sociation?" asked  a  boy  with  a  very  pretty  face. 

"Yes,  and  what  can  I  do  for  you?" 

"I  want  to  join  the  association." 

The   usual   questions   were   asked   and   an- 


HE  SWEARED  ATA  LADY  AND   I    ITXKKD   III.M. 

See  Page  US 


BOYVILLE.  121 

swered.  He  proved  to  be  a  carrier  and  had 
twenty-eight  customers.  A  membership  card  was 
given  the  boy  with  instructions  to  call  in  thirty 
days  and  get  the  badge. 

The  boy  left  the  office  perfectly  happy.  In 
about  a  week  he  returned,  walked  to  the  desk  and 
laid  his  membership  card  down,  saying:  "My 
mother  says  I  can  swear  all  I  want  to,  and  you 
have  nothing  to  do  with  it.  You  must  not  tell 
me  to  stop  swearing." 

The  president  turned  around,  looked  at  the 
boy  for  a  moment,  discovered  he  was  unusually 
bright,  and  back  behind  his  black  eyes  he  showed 
the  right  kind  of  spirit  indicating  that  if  he  made 
up  his  mind  to  do  a  thing  he  would  do  it. 

"So  your  mother  wants  you  to  swear.  Well, 
well,  and  she  don't  want  you  to  belong  to  any 
association  unless  we  all  swear.  Well,  you  shall 
not  be  made  unhappy.  If  your  mother  wants  you 
to  swear  you  shall  have  that  pleasure.  Does 
she  swear  ?" 

"Yes,  sir,  we  all  swear  to  beat  the  band,"  he 
replied,  and  in  a  tone  indicating  that  it  was  one 
of  the  pleasures  of  his  home  life. 

"And  don't  any  of  you  think  it  wrong  to 
swear  ?" 


122  BOYVILLE. 

"Oh,  no,  father  says  he  can  swear  and  it  gives 
force  to  his  arguments.  Mother  says  if  I  want 
to  swear  I  can  do  it." 

''This  association  compels  no  one  to  stop 
swearing — the  rule  adopted  by  the  boys  simply 
says  we  don't  believe  in  it.  And  the  officers 
wouldn't  for  the  world  have  you  do  anything  to 
displease  your  parents. 

"How  many  swear  words  do  you  know?" 

He  thought  for  a  moment  counting  on  his  fin- 
gers, then  said: 

"I  know  seven." 

"Seven  big  swear  words,  well,  well,  and  can 
you  name  them  to  me?" 

"Yes,  sir,  all  of  them  and  I  may  know  an- 
other." 

"All  right.  Try  it.  One,  two,  three,  four, 
five,  six;  my!  that's  an  awful  bad  one,  and-  -and- 
-seven.    There  they  are." 

In  repeating  the  words,  his  manner  showed 
he  was  familiar  with  their  use.  Not  a  blush  rose 
to  his  cheeks. 

"Do  you  want  to  be  a  member  of  this  asso- 
ciation?" 

"Yes,  sir,  all  my  friends  are  members  and 
they  want  me  to  join." 


;'  BOYVILLE.  12^ 

"I  will  pin  your  card  before  me,  on  the  desk. 
See?" 

"Yes,  sir,  I  see  it." 

"Well,  I  will  let  it  remain  there  until  you  call 
for  it,  either  to  tell  me  to  tear  it  up  or  you  take  it. 
Now,  here  is  what  I  want  you  to  do.  And  this 
not  unless  you  want  to.  You  go  home,  and  every 
time  your  mother  wants  you  to  do  something  use 
one  of  those  seven  swear  words,  and  say  it  loud 
enough  so  she  can  hear  it.  Keep  this  up  until  she 
tells  you  to  stop  that  swearing." 

"I  will  do  it,  but  suppose  she  licks  me,  then 
what?" 

"Oh,  that  would  hardly  be  in  keeping  with 
her  teachings,  she  wants  you  to  swear,  doesn't 
she?" 

"Sure  thing,  she  never  licks  me  for  swearing." 

"Do  you  want  to  stop  it  and  become  a  mem- 
ber of  the  association?  Well,  you  try  this  plan, 
and  if  you  can,  throw  the  entire  lot  at  her,  the 
seven  words,  all  at  once." 

"Well,  ril  try  it.    It  looks  easy." 

The  boy  left  the  office  with  a  hearty  "good- 
by." 

The  following  Saturday  he  returned.  He 
stood  smiling  at  the  desk. 


124  BOYVILLE. 

"You  can  give  me  the  membership  card,"  he 
said  laughing. 

Recognizing  him  the  president  shook  him  by 
the  hand. 

"Well,  I  have  been  wondering  what  luck  you 
had  in  swearing." 

"Oh,  I  had  luck.  Only  got  licked  seven 
times." 

"Got  licked,  and  by  whom  ?" 

"Well,  you  would  think  the  whole  house  fell 
on  top  of  me.  Father  said,  send  that  boy  down  to 
you  at  once,  but  mother  licked  me  until  I  saw 
stars.  I'll  never  swear  again  in  our  home.  She 
stopped  it.  She  said  she  never  heard  such  terrible 
swearing  and  when  I  said  I  learned  it  of  her,  I 
got  the  seventh  licking.  Gee,  but  I  was  sore  for 
a  week.  Mother  told  me  the  first  thing  this  morn- 
ing to  come  after  that  card." 

"What  did  you  do  when  you  first  went  home?" 

"Oh,  I  threw  those  seven  swear  words  right 
at  her,  and,  from  the  very  beginning.  She  looked 
at  me  several  times.  I  backed  up,  and  when  she 
asked  me  a  question,  I  let  fly  the  worst  word,  then 
I  had  to  run." 

"What  did  your  father  say?" 

"He  only  said,'didn't  I  tell  you  that  some  day 


BOYVILLE.  125 

that  boy  would  disgrace  us,  now  it's  up  to  you  to 
straighten  it  out/  and  when  they  knew  I  told  you 
why  the  card  was  sent  back,  that  changed  every- 
thing. I've  been  down,  here  four  times,  father 
made  me  go." 

His  name  was  placed  upon  the  books,  a  badge 
was  given  him,  "with  a  lucky  number,"  and  he 
left  the  office. 

A  month  later  the  president  met  him  at  one 
of  the  auxiliary  meetings,  and  to  the  question, 
"How  about  the  seven  swear  words,"  he  said: 

"We  busted  up  swearing  at  our  house.  Ev- 
erybody had  to  stop  it." 

No  better  worker  on  the  street  can  be  found 
than  this  boy.  His  whole  soul  is  in  the  work  for 
doing  good  among  his  associates. 


TA  R  T    FIFTH 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

There  is  no  subject  that  has  received  so  much 
attention  and  has  worried  so  many  good  people 
as  the  Hquor  question.  Saloons  and  drinking 
never  cease  to  be  problems  for  our  well-meaning 
temperance  people.  Why  man  created  saloons, 
no  one  undertakes  to  answer.  The  strongest  man 
is  never  too  strong  in  a  saloon,  and  the  weak  is 
to  be  pitied.  The  saloon  is  an  evil  that  has  been 
with  us  a  long  time  and  seems  to  be  here  to  stay 
in  one  form  or  another.  While  we  cannot  erad- 
icate the  evil,  especially  by  extreme  methods, 
can  we  not  modify  its  influence?  We  have  tried 
the  probation  method,  and  failed.  We  have  tried 
the  open  saloon,  the  clubs,  the  no-treating,  the 
open  reform  saloon,  the  wet  and  dry  division — but 
the  saloons  are  still  with  us,  and  this  because  of 
the  fact  that  the  state,  the  city,  property  owners, 
recognize  the  saloon  legally,  through  the  assess- 
ment of  heavy  licenses  and  taxes,  and  good  well- 
meaning  people  ask  and  receive  money  from  the 
ever-willing  giver,  the  saloonman,  and  use  it  for 
charitable  as  well  as  church  purposes.  The  world 
today  is  heartless  in  its  mad  rush  for  money  get- 


130  BOYVILLE. 

ting,  and  the  "graft"  is  in  the  minds  of  thousands 
of  well-meaning,  but  over-anxious  to  get-rich- 
quick  men;  among  them  the  saloonman.  Let  us 
suggest  to  our  saloonmen  how  they  can  stop  a 
great  deal  of  misery  in  the  world.  We  have  in 
mind  a  saloon  that  was  "made  good"  by  five  news- 
boys. "A  real  live  saloon,  where  politicians  con- 
gregated to  lay  plans  for  work,  and  whose  owner 
had  an  eye  to  making  money,  and  saw  nothing 
else,  even  to  the  ruining  of  boys  and  men." 

"Say,  pres.,"  said  a  newsboy  from  the  saloon 
district,  and  an  officer  of  an  auxiliary,  "Jimmy 
Smith  is  drunk  and  laying  in  the  alley  at  the 
saloon  where  politicians  hold  their  meetin's.  The 
bar-tender  throwed  him  out." 

The  books  showed  Jimmy  Smith's  father  was 
a  "ward  politician,"  a  good  fellow  who  was  often 
taken  home  drunk  by  his  son,  a  newsboy.  Jimmy 
was  eleven  years  old,  very  bright  and  intelligent 
for  his  age.  He  learned  to  drink  liquor  through 
his  father  and  mother  sending  him  to  the  saloon 
for  beer,  and  "dropping  in  the  alley  on  the  way 
home  and  tasting  the  beer,  until  he  began  to 
like  it." 

To  the  question,  "did  you  ever  see  Jimmy 
drink  in  the  saloon?"  the  boys  answered  that  it 


BOYVILLE.  i^i 

was  a  common  thing;  "but  today  when  the  bar- 
tender took  Jimmy's  nickel,  and  he  was  full,  he 
throwed  him  out.  He  said  he  didn't  want  the 
kid  to  disgrace  his  place." 

Three  of  the  best  officers  were  called,  they 
went  to  the  alley,  and  took  Jimmy  home.  Three 
of  the  five  boys  who  were  assigned  this  case,  be- 
longed to  a  gang  and  were  familiar  with  all  the 
inside  workings  of  a  saloon,  they  were  never  slow 
in  showing  their  appreciation  of  a  saloonman  who 
defended  them,  and  who  turned  them  down  for 
entering  the  saloon.  The  method  adopted  by  the 
boys  was  their  work.  They  knew  the  proprietor 
of  the  saloon,  and  knew  him  to  be  a  very  kind- 
hearted  man.  No  person  ever  asked  him  in  vain 
for  a  donation  to  any  cause.  His  own  boys  were 
model  young  men,  stood  high  in  school,  and  as- 
sociated with  the  best  of  church  members. 
Strange  to  say  the  two  sons  of  the  saloonman 
were  regular  at  Sunday-school.  It  is  a  fact  that 
when  any  society,  church  or  other  organization 
desired  aid,  this  saloonman  was  sought  after  by 
a  dozen  persons.  They  knew  he  was  easy.  This 
man  in  his  home,  on  the  street,  in  the  lodge  room 
(and  he  belonged  to  many  societies),  in  any  pub- 


1^2  BOYVILLE. 

lie  gathering,  was  recognized  as  an  honest  man; 
but  behind  the  bar  he  saw  nothing  but  money. 

He  never  thought  he  was  doing  a  wrong  by 
taking  the  last  cent  from  a  drunken  man;  it  was 
business,  and  that  was  why  he  was  there.  When 
reminded  of  it  he  simply  replied  that,  "I  might 
as  well  have  it  as  any  one  else,  for  someone  will 
get  it."  Often  he  said:  "He  is  bound  to  drink 
and  the  best  way  is  to  let  him  drink  up  all  his 
money  and  that  is  an  end  of  it." 

When  the  newsboys  called  upon  him  to  plead 
for  their  friend,  Jimmy,  they  were  received  with, 
"the  utmost  attention  and  kindness."  The  follow- 
ing is  what  the  chairman  reported : 

"We  said  to  the  boss,  we  come  to  see  you 
about  Jimmy  Smith  and  his  father.  You  see 
Jimmy  has  been  in  bad  company,  the  bad  company 
was  at  his  home,  his  father  an'  mother.  He 
learned  the  habit  of  drinking  by  tasting  beer  he 
was  sent  after  by  his  father,  and  he  said  when  he 
learned  to  drink  that  your  clerk  gave  him  a  glass 
of  beer  every  time  he  came  after  it.  So  the  other 
day  your  bar-tender  threw  him  out  of  the  saloon. 
He  had  gradually  taught  the  boy  to  drink,  and 
when  he  began  to  get  so  that  it  annoyed  him,  he 
didn't  want  him.    We  come  to  see  if  you  won't 


BOYVILLE.  133 

please  stop  giving  Jimmy  any  more  drink  and  tell 
your  man  to  throw  him  out  of  the  saloon  before 
he  drinks.  We'll  stand  for  that,  but  we  won't 
stand  for  his  pitching  him  in  the  alley  when  he's 
got  all  of  Jimmy's  money  and  is  drunk.  As  to 
his  father,  we  don't  want  you  to  sell  him  anything 
when  you  see  he  has  enough.  Don't  take  the  last 
cent  he  has  when  you  know  he  is  full  already. 
Send  him  home.  His  family  needs  every  cent. 
And  don't  sell  Jimmy  any  beer  if  he  comes  with 
the  bucket." 

The  boys  were  treated  with  great  kindness 
by  the  owner  of  the  saloon  who  promised  to  do 
more  than  they  asked  of  him.  His  bar-tenders 
were  instructed,  under  penalty  of  dismissal,  not 
to  permit  a  newsboy  in  the  saloon. 

"I  realize  the  wrong  being  done  to  the  boys," 
he  said  to  the  president,  "and  it  is  through 
thoughtlessness  that  we  permit  the  boys  to  come 
here  at  all.  I'll  tell  you  what  I'll  do.  One  of  my 
relatives  has  an  interest  in  a  commercial  college. 
I'll  buy  this  boy,  Jimmy,  a  scholarship  if  he'll  go 
to  school." 

Jimmy  was  only  too  glad  to  accept. 

Two  years  pass,  and  Jimmy  is  about  to  grad- 
uate from  the  college.    The  manager  said:     "I 


134  BOYVILLE. 

have  four  men  after  this  boy.  He  has  the  right 
kind  of  push  in  him  to  make  a  splendid  business 
man." 

Four  years  later  Jim.my  received  a  monthly 
salary  of  $100,  and  during  that  time  has  assisted 
in  helping  many  a  street  boy. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

At  one  of  the  auxiliary  meetings  the  vice- 
president  of  the  association,  who  was  always 
practical  in  his  talks  to  the  boys,  gave  a  little  ad- 
vice to  the  sellers. 

It  is  worth  remembering. 

"Boys,"  he  said,  ''rain  or  shine  be  at  your 
post,  at  your  corner.  Never  be  out  of  papers,  and 
never  be  out  of  change.  Many  a  good  boy  who 
needs  money  loses  a  sale  for  want  of  having 
change.  Keep  your  eye  peeled.  If  a  man  wants 
a  paper,  you  should  see  it,  though  he  is  a  square 
away.  I  know  of  one  little  boy,  smaller  than  those 
who  were  selling  with  him,  who  always  saw  a 
customer  a  block  away,  and  when  the  evening's 
work  was  over  he  generally  had  ten  to  twenty 
cents  to  the  clear  more  than  others.  Be  polite 
and  always  cheerful.  Keep  your  face  and  hands 
clean,  and  you  will  get  many  an  extra  nickel.  If 
you  are  polite  and  civil  you  will  get  a  regular  line 
of  customers  who  will  always  wait  for  you.  Thank 
everyone  who  buys  a  paper.  Tip  your  hat  to  the 
ladies  and  they  will  speak  well  of  you  when  they 
get  home.    Any  little  favor  you  can  do  for  a  man 

1 


1^6  BOYVILLE. 

or  woman  on  the  street  (and  not  look  as  though 
you  expect  something),  will  always  bring  you 
business.  The  wind  blew  off  the  hat  of  a  gentle- 
man one  day,  and  a  little  seller  saw  it.  Quick  as 
a  flash  he  ran  after  it,  took  his  own  cap  to  wipe 
the  dirt  off  the  gentleman's  hat,  and  handed  it  to 
him.  The  gentleman  said:  'How  many  papers 
you  got?'  Twenty-four,  sir,'  said  the  boy.  'Give 
them  all  to  me." 

On  the  membership  card  it  reads:  "He  does 
not  approve  of  swearing,  etc." 

A  probation  member,  a  boy  who  received  his 
membership  card,  and  had  thirty  days  to  wait  for 
his  badge,  brought  an  old  member  to  the  presi- 
dent, one  evening,  with  this  plea. 

"President,  this  boy  swears  like  hell.  I  heard 
him  on  the  corner." 

"Aw,  what  you  given  us,  you  swear  yourself." 
replied  the  accused. 

"Yes  that's  all  right.  Tell  me  something; 
how  would  I  know  what  swearing  was  if  I  did 
n't  know  something  about  it.,"  proudly  answered 
the  new  member. 

"Well,  you  have  no  right  to  bring  me  here  and 
accuse  me  of  doing  what  you  yourself  do.  Read 
your  card,  kid,  read  your  card." 


FIRST  SALE  OF  THE  DAY. 


BOYVILLE.  1^7 

Without  showing  any  signs  of  worry,  the  little 
fellow  said. 

"President  what  can  you  expect  of  a  bation- 
ist.  When  I  get  my  badge  things  will  be  dif- 
ferent.   I  cuts  swearing  out  then." 

"Yes,  but  you  better  wait  instead  of  buttin  in 
before  you  are  a  live  member,"  said  the  carrier. 

They  talked  some  time  about  the  matter  be- 
tween themselves  and  finally  they  locked  arms, 
slowly  walked  out  of  the  office  saying : 

"Guess  we  better  cut  out  swearing  all 
around." 

The  following  story  illustrates  a  good  method 
of  treating  boys  who  disobey  their  parents.  It 
may  not  meet  the  approval  of  many  fathers  and 
mothers,  but  the  sequel  has  in  it  the  success  of 
the  work  among  the  street-boys.  We  regret  that 
we  cannot  give  due  credit  to  the  author  for  the 
suggestions  embodied  in  the  story. 

A  young  boy  was  left  alone  in  the  yard  to 
play.  Everybody  had  gone  and  left  the  house  in 
his  care.  He  was  given  the  key  and  told  not  to 
enter  the  house  until  the  family  returned.  After  a 
while  he  became  tired  of  the  birds,  the  flowers,  the 
the  trees,  the  sunshine.  The  spirit  of  disobe- 
dience entered  into  him  and  slowly  he  took  his 


138  BOYVILLE. 

way  to  the  house.  He  unlocked  the  door.  The 
first  thing  met  his  eye  was  his  father's  razor.  He 
had  ahvays  been  forbidden  to  touch  it.  But  the 
spirit  of  Hcense  ran  riot  in  his  veins,  and  in  using 
it  he  cut  his  face  until  the  blood  trickled  down. 
Next  he  made  his  way  to  a  matchbox.  He  had 
always  been  told  to  let  it  alone.  He  first  built 
fences  with  matches  on  the  floor,  then  fires  under 
the  lace  curtains.  A  hole  in  the  carpet,  ruined 
curtains  and  his  fingers  blistered  was  the  result. 
Suffering  with  pain  and  ashamed  of  his  disobe- 
dience he  steals  out  under  the  trees,  and  like 
Adam  in  the  garden,  he  thought  he  could  hide 
his  sins  by  hiding  himself.  So  he  stole  away  and 
crawled  under  some  bushes.  When  his  father 
came  home,  discovered  the  ruined  articles,  he 
thought,  what  can  be  done  to  restore  and  mend 
that  which  his  boy  had  broken,  had  ruined  ?  His 
razor  was  broken,  but  he  could  buy  a  new  one. 
His  matches  were  consumed,  but  he  could  buy 
more.  The  curtains  and  carpet  were  defaced  by 
fire,  but  they  could  be  replaced  and  repaired. 
Wealth  could  repair  the  damage  done  to  the 
house  and  make  all  as  before.  Skill  and  nature 
could  repair  the  wrong  done  to  the  hand  and  the 
face,  and  make  them  as  they  were  before. 


BOYVILLE.  139 

But  where  were  the  riches  and  where  was  the 
teacher  that  could  make  the  boy's  heart  as  it  was 
before  his  disobedience?  None  could  be  found. 
Let  me  tell  you  what  happened.  The  father  came 
not  to  upbraid,  but  to  entreat ;  not  to  chastise,  but 
to  weep;  The  child's  hand  was  burned,  the 
father's  heart  was  broken.  The  boy  cried  for 
shame,  the  father  cried  for  sorrow.  The  father 
put  his  arms  about  the  boy  and  with  his  head  upon 
his  breast  together  they  sobbed  out  their  sorrow. 
One  part  of  it  was  the  boy's  confession,  and  the 
other  part  of  it  was  the  father's  pain.  Together 
they  made  a  new  resolution  and  hand  to  hand, 
and  heart  to  heart,  and  love  to  love,  they  began 
together  to  repair  the  ruin  that  had  been 
wrought. 

During  the  early  stages  of  a  boy's  member- 
ship he  is  constantly  reminded  that  some  day  he 
will  leave  the  street,  he  will  seek  employment 
elsewhere,  and  his  start  in  a  business  life  depends 
upon  his  street  work.  To  illustrate  this  teach- 
ing, a  boy  found  a  small  child's  savings  bank.  It 
was  filled  with  money,  small  coin;  and  it  was 
heavy.  It  was  picked  up  on  the  street  over  a  mile 
from  the  president's  office.  As  soon  as  found,  the 
boy  started  on  a  run,  as  they  always  do,  for  the 


140  BOYVILLE. 

office.  It  was  delivered  with  the  usual  instruct- 
ion "to  please  find  the  owner."  To  try  the  newsie 
the  president  called  him  aside  and  said,  in  a  con- 
fidential whisper :  "Why  didn't  you  sneak  around 
the  corner,  into  an  alley,  any  place  where  no  one 
could  see  you,  and  take  a  stone  break  the  old  bank 
all  to  pieces,  take  the  money,  and,  my,  what  a 
good  time  you  could  have  had." 

The  boy  quickly  replied :  "No,  sir,  Mr.  Presi- 
dent, suppose  I  wanted  a  job,  and  stood  in  line  to 
be  questioned  by  the  man,  and  he  would  ask,  have 
you  always  been  honest?  What  would  I  say? 
Why!  my  face  would  show  I  did  something 
wrong — I  took  a  little  bank  from  some  poor  boy, 
and  he  would  say,  I  don't  want  a  boy  I  would 
have  to  be  afraid  of ;  no  that  don't  belong  to  me." 

This  plainly  shows  what  can  be  successfully 
impressed  upon  the  minds  of  these  hustling,  seem- 
ingly thoughtless,  street-boys.  And  when  the 
owner  of  that  bank  proved  to  be  a  little  girl — and 
how  happy  she  was  when  it  was  found  and  re- 
turned to  her,  the  boy  said :  "I  would  rather  have 
the  girl's  smiles  than  all  the  money  the  bank  con- 
tained." 


TART    SIXTH 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

From  the  very  beginning-  of  the  Boyville  as- 
sociation there  has  scarcely  been  a  day  without 
something  of  importance  transpiring  among  the 
boys.  It  has  been  gradually  building  up,  incidents 
and  noble  acts  showing  the  willingness  of  these 
boys  not  only  to  do  right  themselves  but  to  as- 
sist others. 

The  w^ork  so  humbly  begun  in  1892,  with  one 
hundred  or  more  members,  mostly  the  poorest 
boys  of  the  streets,  little  outcasts,  as  they  are 
often  called,  developed  so  rapidly  under  the  self- 
governing  plan,  that  in  the  early  part  of  the  year 
1905  the  books  of  the  Boyville  Newsboys'  Asso- 
ciation showed  a  membership  of  over  three  thous- 
and boys  under  fourteen  3^ears  of  age.  This  enroll- 
ment includes  two  hundred  and  fifty  boys  who 
started  with  the  association  as  sellers  and  shiners 
of  shoes,  but  who  today  have  graduated  from  the 
street.  The  majority  of  this  number  are  engaged 
in  some  business,  lawyers,  doctors,  commercial 
travelers,  clerks  or  working  in  some  trade,  and 
all  ambitious  not  only  to  earn  a  living  for  them- 
selves but  also  to  lend  a  helping  hand  to  those 


144  BOYVILLE. 

who  are  in  need,  ever  having  in  mind  the  teach- 
ings of  the  association.  The  following  will  show 
how  well  some  of  the  principles  have  been  remem- 
bered and  how  long  they  remained  intact. 

Early  in  January  of  1905,  a  young  man 
brought  to  the  president  an  old  pocket-book  con- 
taining twenty-two  dollars  and  sixty  cents ($22.- 
60), together  with  some  letters,  the  contents  of 
which  revealed  the  fact  that  the  owner  was  a  poor 
woman  and  had  been  visiting  her  relatives  to  se- 
cure assistance  in  raising  money  to  pay  taxes, 
long  since  due,  on  her  home.  Names  were  given, 
but  no  residence. 

The  president  said  to  the  young  man:  ''You 
know  we  advertise  what  the  boys  find  in  the  daily 
papers  and  do  everything  we  can  to  seek  the 
owner  and — " 

"Yes,  sir,"  replied  the  young  man,  "I  know 
all  this  and  have  been  through  it  many  years  ago. 
That  is  just  what  I  want  you  to  do,  please  try  to 
find  the  rightful  owner.  I  want  no  compensation, 
and  I  don't  want  my  name  mentioned  in  any 
way." 

As  it  was  necessary  to  know  who  the  finder 
was,  so  that  after  the  expiration  of  thirty  days 
the  money  could  be  returned  to  him,  he  finally 


BOYVILLE.  145 

gave  his  name  and  address.  When  he  had  left 
the  office,  something  about  his  eyes  reminded  the 
president  that  he  had  seen  him,  somewhere  many- 
years  ago.  Bringing  out  the  Newsboys'  book  he 
found  among  the  first  names  recorded  eleven 
years  ago,  this  young  man's.  Following  the  name 
was:  ^'Seller,  and  shiner,  age  eleven,  poor  par- 
ents, smart  boy,"  and  on  leaving  the  street,  as  a 
seller,  became  a  graduate  member.  So,  he  was  a 
newsboy  eleven  years  ago,  and  still  retained  the 
desire  to  do  something  for  others. 

About  a  week  after  the  money  was  advertised, 
a  very  aged  lady  called.  She  minutely  described 
the  contents  of  the  pocket-book ;  she  said :  "I  was 
returning  from  a  visit  to  my  son,  where  I  went  to 
get  $22.60  to  pay  taxes  on  my  home.  This 
amount  included  some  back  taxes.  The  property 
was  already  advertised  for  sale.  What  to  do 
when  I  lost  that  money  I  did  not  know.  My  men- 
tal suffering  was  most  intense.  I  walked  from 
the  depot  towards  the  court  house  and  did  not 
miss  my  pocket-book  until  I  crossed  the  bridge. 
Yes,  this  is  mine." 

During  the  recital  of  her  story  her  eyes  were 
filled  with  tears,  and  she  showed  the  mental 
strain  under  which  she  was  laboring.    When  the 


146  BOYVILLE. 

pocket-book  and  the  money  were  handed  to  her, 
the  change  in  her  demeanor  was  beautiful  to  be- 
hold. When  the  young  man  was  told  to  whom 
the  money  belonged  and  the  great  good  it  did, 
he  said: 

"No  money  reward  could  pay  me  for  this.  I 
am  only  too  glad  we  found  the  owner,  especially 
as  it  belonged  to  so  poor  a  woman." 

Does  it  pay  to  be  a  life-member  of  The  Boy- 
ville  Newsboys'  Association? 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

The  finding  of  valuable  articles  and  turning 
them  over  to  the  president,  with  a  request  to  find 
the  owner,  is  not  a  rule  of  the  association. 

All  these  little  acts  have  a  tendency  to  culti- 
vate a  desire  to  assist  others  and  many  times  vio- 
lations of  the  rules  are  corrected  by  members 
who  are  not  officers. 

At  almost  any  time  of  the  day  can  be  seen  a 
man  with  a  two-wheeled  cart,  slowly  circulating 
around  newspaper  offices,  especially  about  the 
time  the  dailies  are  out.  The  newsies  purchase 
a  penny's  worth  of  ice  cream,  or  cheap  candies, 
and  often  these  old  men  become  quite  confidential 
friends  of  certain  boys — particularly  the  shiners, 
who  are  on  the  street  almostly  constantly.  One 
time  a  new  member,  a  bootblack,  a  boy  about 
fourteen  years  of  age,  before  he  understood  the 
secret  workings  of  the  association,  had  a  dispute 
with  a  vendor  of  ice  cream  and  peanuts,  about  the 
loss  of  several  sacks  of  peanuts.  The  boy  was 
accused  of  stealing  the  peanuts.  "Yes,  you  didn't 
see  me  steal  'em,"  said  the  shiner,  "an  if  you  don't 
catch  a  feller,  how  youse  goin'  to  prove  it  ?" 


148  BOYVILLE. 

The  boy  was  about  to  leave  the  wagon,  when 
several  sellers  came  to  him. 

"Say,  Muddy  Water,"  cried  one  of  the  boys, 
"we  seed  you  steal  the  peanuts.  You  must  settle 
wid  de  ole  man." 

The  boy  came  back,  but  pleaded  that  he  did 
not  have  any  money. 

"All  right,  we'll  chip  in  an'  pay  de  debt." 

The  money  was  raised,  and  the  boy  was  re- 
quired to  pay  for  the  stolen  peanuts  and  make  an 
apology. 

"I'm  sorry,  but  I  did'nt  know  it  was  again' 
the  rules  of  the  association,"  he  said. 

"Of  course  it's  again  the  rules,  an'  if  s  our 
business  to  give  all  new  members  warning  when 
they  do  things  like  that.    Don't  do  it  any  more." 

This  was  a  warning  well  heeded  as  after 
events  proved. 

One  of  the  greatest  benefits  gained  by  the 
newsboys  in  belonging  to  the  association  is  the 
securing  of  suitable  positions;  for  boys,  as  they 
grow  older,  naturally  leave  the  street  work. 

Wholesale  as  well  as  retail  men,  frequently 
ask  for  good,  honest  boys.  During  the  twelve 
years  existence  of  Boyville  it  has  been  the  de- 
light of  the  president  to  secure  some  two  hundred 


BOYVILLE.  149 

places  for  newsboys.  With  all  this  great  number 
it  is  a  pleasure  to  state  that  not  one  in  fifty  proved 
unworthy  of  the  positions,  or  unfitted  for  the  kind 
of  work.  The  majority  of  boys  for  whom 
positions  were  secured  were  from  very  poor  par- 
ents, mostly  widowed  mothers,  needing  their 
assistance. 

Unless  a  person  is  familiar  with  street 
boys,  no  conception  can  be  formed  of  their  en- 
ergy and  determination  in  following  up  anything 
they  want. 

A  young  man,  who  had  outgrown  newsboy's 
work  called  upon  the  president  and  wanted  a  po- 
sition as  brakeman  on  one  of  the  railroads. 

He  was  kindly  informed  by  the  president  that 
he  knew  the  superintendent  of  the  road  he  wished 
to  work  for  had  already  over  five  hundred  ap- 
plications from  young  men  wanting  to  be  brake- 
men.  Instead  of  asking  the  president  to  see  the 
superintendent,   as   is   generally  done,   he   said: 

"Please  give  me  the  name  of  the  man  who 
does  the  employing  of  brakemen.  I  want  to  see 
him.    I  think  I  can  show  him  he  wants  me." 

"I  am  afraid  it  won't  be  of  any  use,  but  I 
like  your  pluck.    Here  is  a  note  to  him." 


I50  BOYVILLE. 

This  note  simply  said  the  bearer  was  an  hon- 
est young  man. 

A  few  days  later  the  young  man  called. 

"Well,  I  got  a  job.  I'm  brakeman  on  one  of 
the  fast  trains." 

This  he  secured  through  his  own  tact,  for  this 
certainly  was  necessary.  His  street  experience 
taught  him  to  hustle  for  himself,  and  it  became 
part  of  his  nature  as  he  grew  older.  He  did  not 
sit  down  and  wait  for  something  to  come  his  way, 
for  something  to  turn  up.  He  turned  up  some- 
thing for  himself. 

His  frank  and  honorable  method  of  working 
the  superintendent,  his  earnest  but  manly  appeal, 
his  push,  his  politeness,  his  tact,  secured  for  him 
what  five  hundred  young  men  were  ''waiting  to 
receive  by  letter."  When  the  matter  was  referred 
to  the  superintendent  he  said :  "His  every  action 
showed  he  was  a  willing  worker  and  not  afraid 
to  work  overtime  if  necessary.  He  works  as 
though  he  owned  the  entire  road." 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

Commercial  men,  some  of  our  best  merchants, 
sometimes,  in  their  eagerness  to  make  money,  for- 
get the  first  principles  of  honesty,  and  often  make 
assertions  that  upon  second  thought  they  would 
not  make.  Sometimes  in  their  advertising  they 
will  say  things  which  they  would  never  think  of 
saying  under  other  circumstances,  though  lying 
in  business  matters  is  equally  as  dishonorable  as 
in  private  life.  The  relations  between  the  public 
and  the  merchant,  as  well  as  between  master  and 
servant,  must  rest  on  mutual  respect  and  confi- 
dence. Here  is  an  illustration,  by  a  close  ob- 
server, a  boy  fourteen  years  of  age. 

Walking  along  one  of  the  principal  streets,  a 
newsboy  noticed  the  following  sign,  in  large  type, 
in  a  show  window  and  attached  to  some  article 
for  sale.  It  read:  "Regular  price,  one  hundred 
dollars.    Our  price,  twenty-nine  dollars." 

"Say,  president,"  said  the  boy,  "is  that  man 
telling  the  truth  when  he  says  a  twenty-nine  dol- 
lar article  is  worth  one  hundred  dollars  ?" 

It  was  a  question  that  required  a  wise  answer, 


152  BOYVILLE. 

but  put  it  in  any  business  way  possible,  nothing 
could  satisfy  the  boy  that  it  was  strictly  honest. 

"When  I  go  into  business/'  said  the  seller, 
"You  bet  I'll  not  fool  the  public;  when  I  say  a 
thing  is  worth  so  much  it  will  be  worth  that 
much." 

What  time  would  develop,  what  changes  come 
over  this  young  man,  no  one  could  tell,  but  the 
right  principle  had  a  good  hold  of  the  boy,  and  it 
meant  success  and  a  clear  conscience  during  his 
manhood. 

That  the  success  of  the  association  does  not 
depend  upon  the  efforts  of  the  officers  entirely, 
will  be  seen  by  the  following : 

Three  newsboys  called  Upon  the  president; 
two  of  them  were  leading  a  ragged  little  fellow 
with  a  shining-box  thrown  over  his  shoulder. 

"Say,  president,"  said  one  of  them,  "here's  a 
boy  shining  shoes  on  the  market  an'  the  way  he 
swears  is  puttin'  men  out  o'  business." 

The  accused  bootblack  was  a  sight.  To  the 
question  where  he  lived  he  replied:  "I  have  no 
home.  My  father's  dead  an'  my  mother,  she's 
no  good.    There's  no  room  fur  me  in  the  house." 

By  further  questioning  it  was  learned  that  the 
clothes  he  had  on  were  given  to  him  some  two 


THE  TOUGH   FROM   MARKET  SPACE. 

See  Pa£e  152 


BOYVILLE.  i^^ 

months  ago  and  had  not  been  taken  off  since  he 
put  them  on.  This  may  seem  strange,  but  it  is 
only  one  of  the  dozen  of  cases  where  parents  do 
not  require  the  removal  of  their  boy's  clothes 
when  they  go  to  bed. 

The  peculiar  odor  coming  from  boys  who  are 
treated  in  this  shameful  manner  will  prove  this. 
This  boy  walked  from  a  neighboring  city,  or  stole 
a  ride  on  some  freight-train.  He  had  been  shi- 
ning shoes  around  the  market-space  for  a  month 
or  more,  and  declared  that  to  be  in  the  push,  to 
be  recognized  by  men,  and  to  secure  business,  it 
was  necessary  to  swear  and  be  tough. 

*T  wouldn't  be  a  bootblack,"  he  said,  "if  I 
couldn't  swear,  the  men  wouldn't  shine  if  I 
didn't." 

The  newsboys  who  frequented  the  market 
were  very  much  put  out  by  this  boy's  swearing 
and  general  tough  appearance,  so  when  oppor- 
tunity favored  they  began  their  missionary  work, 
with  the  result  of  persuading  the  shiner  to  ac- 
company them  to  the  president's  office. 

The  boy  had  a  very  attractive  face.  He  was 
worth  saving. 

"So,  you  come  to  see  me  about  joining  the  as- 
sociation," said  the  president. 


154  BOYVILLE. 

The  boy  replied:  "The  boys  say  I  can  make 
more  money  if  I  cut  out  swearin'  an'  belong  to 
the  association." 

"They  tell  me  you  swear  and  sometimes  don't 
know  how  to  give  correct  change  to  your  custom- 
ers. If  that's  so  you  are  just  the  kind  of  a  boy 
we  want.  You  little  hustling  fellows  make  our 
best  young  men.  You  don't  wait  until  someone 
comes  to  you  for  a  shine.  I  have  seen  you  follow 
a  man  who  had  red  shoes  a  whole  square.  You 
will  make  a  good  business  man,  and  these  little 
boys,  friends  of  yours,  are  just  the  kind  of  boys 
who  will  help  you,  will  bring  you  business,  will 
tell  you  where  to  get  something  good  to  eat,  and 
I  think  we  can  throw  away  your  old  ragged 
clothes  and  get  a  new  suit,  how  would  you  like 
that?" 

His  face  had  a  surprised  look.  He  didn't  ex- 
pect some  one  to  offer  anything  of  interest  to 
him,  he  expected  to  get  lectured,  to  be  "talked 
goodygood  to,"  as  he  afterwards  said. 

"Well,  you  see,  mister,"  said  the  boy  with 
some  familiarity,  "we  can't  do  business  on  the 
street  unless  we  do  as  men  do.  They  swear  at 
us  an'  we  must  swear  at  them  or  we  lose  the 
shine." 


BOYVILLE.  15^ 

"How  often  do  men  swear  at  you?" 

"How  often?  I  can't  count  'em.  Every  other 
word." 

"Well,  it  doesn't  sound  nice,  does  it  ?" 

"No,  an'  I  could  cut  it  out." 

"Sure  thing  he  can  cut  it  out,  an'  we'll  be 
right  behind  to  see  that  he  forgets  it,"  put  in  one 
of  the  newsies. 

"Well,  I'll  start  you  in  the  association,"  said 
the  president,  "but  I  don't  want  you  to  be  too 
good  to  start  with.  Sometimes  you  may  forget 
what  the  card  means,  and  you  will  swear  before 
you  know  it,  but  don't  let  that  worry  you,  the  next 
time  you  will  do  better  and  forget  it.  But  when 
you  get  the  badge,  in  thirty  days,  then  you  musn't 
swear  at  all,  for  if  you  do  the  officers  will  be  right 
after  you  and  your  name  will  be  on  a  list  that 
means  something  when  you  get  older  and  want 
a  position  in  some  big  store." 

The  membership  card  was  given  to  him,  a 
new  suit  of  clothes  was  furnished  by  a  kind 
hearted  clothier,  and  the  boys — including  the 
chairman  of  the  executive  committee — took  the 
boy  home.  When  his  mother  discovered  some  one 
took  an  interest  in  him,  she  began  to  think  he 
amounted  to  something,  and  from  that  time  on, 


1^6  BOYVILLE. 

he  received  attention.  At  the  expiration  of  thirty 
days  the  numbered  badge  was  given  to  him  and 
he  started  on  his  new  Hfe. 

In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  this  bootblack 
was  unanimously  elected  as  an  officer  of  Boyville, 
and  is  one  of  the  best  boys  on  the  street.  Two 
months  later  he  brought  to  the  president  a  gold 
watch,  worth  forty-two  dollars  and  fifty  cents. 
The  owner  was  found,  and  insisted  upon  seeing 
the  young  man.  He  was  sent,  with  the  watch,  to 
him.  The  wealthy  lawyer  handed  him  ten  cents, 
and  gave  him  some  good  advice.  The  boy  re- 
turned the  money  saying : 

No,  Mister,  you  keep  this,  you  need  it  more 
than  I  do." 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Among  the  great  number  of  boys  who  called 
at  the  office,  none  cast  such  a  ray  of  sunshine 
about  him  as  a  little  seller  known  as  Sunny  Willie, 
on  account  of  the  smile  he  always  seemed  to  have. 
But  with  all  his  good  nature  and  kindness  of 
heart,  he,  at  times,  became  very  serious. 

One  evening  after  the  boys  had  sold  their  pa- 
pers and  were  enroute  to  their  homes.  Sunny 
Willie,  as  was  often  his  habit,  called  upon  the 
president  to  say  good  night.  Just  as  he  was  leav- 
ing the  office,  two  boys  walked  in  and  the  loud 
talking  between  them  indicated  trouble.  Willie 
concluded  to  remain.  Leaning  against  the  desk 
he  became  a  very  attentive  listener.  The  smile 
had  left  him.    He  looked  thoughtful. 

"I  know  you're  wrong,"  said  one  of  the  boys, 
"you're  talking  to  hear  yourself  talk.  You  are 
looking  fur  trouble.  That's  what  you  are.  I  ken 
prove  it.  I  ken  show  you  I  wasn't  on  the  corner 
fur  a  week."  "That's  right,"  replied  the  other 
boy,  "why  wasn't  you  there  fur  a  week,  because 
you  stole  the  papers  from  the  poor  old  woman  and 


1^8  BOYVILLE. 

was  ashamed  to  sell  'round  the  corner.  Now, 
come  off,  you  took  de  papers." 

At  the  corner  of  the  post-office  is  a  small  stand 
kept  by  a  woman,  who  has  been  engaged  in  selling 
papers  for  a  number  of  years.  One  morning, 
some  papers  were  missing  from  a  bundle  lying 
upon  the  sidewalk.  The  boy  accused  usually  sold 
papers  on  the  corner  and  his  absence  for  several 
mornings  gave  rise  to  the  suspicion  that  he  either 
took  the  papers  or  knew  something  about  them. 

"As  I  said  before,"  continued  the  accused  boy, 
"I  did  not  steal  the  papers,  an'  you  got  no  proof 
to  show  I  did." 

There  was  silence  for  some  moments  when 
Sunny  Willie,  said,  in  a  whisper,  to  the  president : 

'T  saw  de  kid  take  the  papers.  Shall  I  butt 
in?" 

"Yes,  you  arbritate  the  case — settle  it,"  re- 
plied the  president. 

The  usual  smile  was  still  missing  when  Willie 
said,  quietly : 

"Sand  the  track,  you're  slipping." 

"What  do  you  mean?"  asked  the  boy,  his  face 
becoming  very  red. 

"You  know  the  rule  of  the  association  is  to 
warn  a  boy  when  he's  slipping;  when  he's  doin' 


BOYVILLE.  159 

something  wrong.  When  I  say,  sand  the  track, 
I  mean  you  can't  go  forward,  you  go  backward, 
and  some  one  must  help  you  or  you  sHde  back, 
see?  I'm  the  fellow  who's  ready  to  stop  you  from 
sliding.    I  saw  you  take  the  papers." 

The  accused  was  surprised.  He  could  not 
talk.    Sunny  Willie  again  came  to  his  rescue. 

"I'll  give  you  these  pennies,"  he  said,  and  the 
smile  returned  to  his  pretty  face.  In  his  little 
hand  he  held  ten  new  pennies. 

"Now,  didn't  you  take  the  papers?" 

"Yes,  but  I  intended  to  return  the  money  for 
them,  or  make  it  all  right  with  the  old  woman." 

"Come,"  he  continued  addressing  Willie,"  I'll 
go  with  you  and  we'll  make  it  all  right." 

Out  the  three  boys  went  and  they  were  soon 
talking  with  the  old  woman.  Shortly,  Sunny 
Willie  returned  to  the  office. 

"If  I  hadn't  a  put  sand  on  his  track  he  would 
have  slipped  way  back,"  he  said  to  the  president, 
"Everything's  all  right.  He  will  never  steal  pa- 
pers again." 

Another  little  seller,  a  favorite  on  the  street 
among  business  men,  one  of  whom  the  president 
often  purchases  a  paper  to  please  the  newsboy, 
came  running  into  the  office  one  evening  and 


i6o  BOYVILLE. 

throwing  his  bundle  upon  the  lap  of  the  president 
said: 

"Here,  pres.,  hold  these  papers  until  I  go  into 
the  hotel  to  get  a  drink  of  water." 

The  act  was  done  so  quickly  the  president 
found  the  big  bundle  on  his  lap  before  he  really 
understood  the  wishes  of  the  newsie,  but  he 
quickly  returned,  took  the  papers,  and  said,  as  he 
hastened  out: 

"Thank  you,  Mr.  President." 

The  confidence  this  boy  had  in  the  president 
was  appreciated,  not  only  by  him  but  by  those 
who  witnessed  the  act. 

It  has  always  been  a  source  of  great  pleasure, 
to  the  president  and  his  associates,  to  see  how 
deeply  interested  the  officers  of  the  association 
become,  as  the  following  will  show. 

Three  officers  were  walking  on  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal streets  casually  looking  in  the  show-windows 
when  they  heard  music ;  looking  ahead  they  saw  a 
newsboy,  a  seller,  walking  along,  playing  a 
mouth-organ.  Coming  to  him,  it  was  noticed  the 
instrument  was  an  unusually  fine  one,  and  a  new 
one. 

"That  mouth-organ  is  too  expensive  for  that 


DIVIDING    THE    PAPERS. 


BOYVILLE.  i6i 

boy,  there's  something  wrong,"  said  one  of  the 
officers. 

''Where  did  you  get  that  organ,"  was  asked 
the  newsie. 

"I  buyed  it  at  Smith's  store,  down  yonder," 
was  the  reply. 

"Well,  I  guess,  not.  You  never  had  so  much 
money.  Come  on  with  us  and  show  us  where 
you  bought  it." 

They  walked  to  the  corner  when  the  boy  said : 

'T  didn't  buy  it  there,  I  bought  it  down  on 
Monroe  street,"  giving  the  correct  name  of  a 
store  on  that  street. 

"All,  right,  come  along,  we'll  go  down  there." 

Around  the  corner  they  started  and  when 
within  a  block  of  the  street  the  boy  again  changed 
the  place  of  purchase. 

"I  buyed  it  of  Mr.  Jones,  way  out  on  this 
street." 

That  was  five  blocks  away. 

"Now  this  is  the  last  time,"  said  one  of  the 
officers,  "if  you  change  the  place  again,  look  out." 

But  when  they  had  walked  four  squares  the 
boy  again  made  an  effort  to  change. 

"No,  you  don't  my  chappy,"  said  one  of  the 
officers,     "We  know  you  stole  it.     We  knew  it 


i62  BOYVILLE. 

from  the  first.  Now  you  own  to  the  truth  or  we 
will  take  you  to  the  president,  and  then  what?" 

The  boy  squirmed  considerable,  but  every 
movement  gave  evidence  that  he  stole  it. 

"Now,  where  did  you  get  it?"  was  bluntly 
asked,  as  the  boy  was  backed  up  against  a  build- 
ing. 

This  was  too  much  for  him.  He  owned  he 
"hooked  it."  Naming  a  prominent  department 
store  as  the  place  he  took  it. 

"You  must  go  with  us,  hand  it  to  the  propri- 
etor and  beg  his  pardon,"  said  the  officers. 

This  at  first  seemed  a  most  difficult  task,  but 
when  they  promised  to  accompany  him  to  the 
store  he  agreed. 

When  at  the  door  of  the  great  store  he  asked 
the  officers  to  step  aside. 

"If  I  do  this  you  will  not  tell  the  president, 
will  you?" 

"Of  course  not,  he  shall  never  know  anything 
about  it." 

He  walked  in,  took  an  elevator  and  soon  stood 
before  the  manager  of  the  store. 

He  told  how  he  saw  it  on  the  counter  and 
"hooked  it  when  the  girls  were  not  looking,  but 
I  will  never  do  anything  like  this  again." 


BOYVILLE.  163 

The  manager  thanked  the  boy  for  his  deter- 
mination to  do  better  and  told  him  he  would  for- 
give him  for  the  theft,  and  promised  to  give  him 
a  position  in  the  store  if  the  officers  of  the  asso- 
ciation would  bring  him  there  when  he  was 
through  school. 

The  president  learned  of  this  incident  a  month 
later  but  never  knew  the  name  of  the  newsboy. 


CHAPTER  XXVIl. 

As  has  been  said,  the  boys  are  continually  sug- 
gesting by  their  acts  and  words,  something  new, 
something  whereby  the  officers  can  build  upon 
their  ideas. 

The  membership  cards  were  given  first,  to 
show  the  boys  some  of  the  written  rules;  and, 
second,  that  the  boys  might  have  something  offi- 
cial to  show  in  case  they  lost  their  badges ;  but  a 
new  idea  suggested  itself  to  one  of  the  gradua- 
ting sellers,  who  was  about  to  engage  in  business 
other  than  selling  papers.  A  prominent  church- 
man advertised,  "a  boy  wanted  in  his  manufac- 
turing concern."  This  young  man  saw  the  adver- 
tisement and  became  an  applicant  for  the  posi- 
tion. He  was  received  very  kindly  and  naturally 
so  because  he  had  an  honest  face,  and  was  a  will- 
ing worker.  The  gentleman  asked  if  the  boy 
could  give  any  reference. 

The  newsboy  took  from  his  pocket  a  member- 
ship card  of  the  Boyville  Newsboys'  Association. 

"Do  you  know  any  thing  about  the  associatioa 
of  newsboys  ?"  asked  the  seller. 

"Yes,  sir,  I  know  all  about  them." 


BOYVILLE.  165 

"This  is  my  reference,"  the  boy  replied  hand- 
ing him  the  card  on  which  the  man  read — "He 
does  not  approve  of  swearing,  steahng,  lying  etc." 

To  the  boy's  surprise  and  disgust,  the  gentle- 
man took  the  card  crumpled  it  in  his  hand,  and 
threw  it  upon  the  floor,  remarking:  "that's  no 
reference — that's  no  good  in  business." 

The  boy  picked  it  up,  and,  to  use  his  own  lan- 
guage, said: 

"I  waited  until  my  temper  cooled  down  and 
I  asked  him,  'can  you  say  you  never  swore,  never 
stole  any  thing,  never  gambled,  never  cheated  any 
one?  I  can,  sir,  and  that's  what  that  card  means. 
I  wouldn't  work  for  you.'  Oh,  I  hit  him  hard. 
As  I  was  leaving  he  called  me  back,  but  I  said, 
'if  you  would  give  me  five  thousand  dollars  a  year 
I  wouldn't  work  for  you.  You  have  not  only  in- 
sulted me  but  the  association." 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Before  Boyville  was  thought  of,  a  personal  in- 
vestigation into  the  home-life  of  over  a  hundred 
boys  was  made,  and  this  covered  a  period  of  three 
years.  Of  the  one  hundred  who  were  gradua- 
ting from  the  street  work  as  newsboys  not  more 
than  thirty  were  engaged  in  a  business  that  would 
lead  them  to  fortune  or  fame.  Seventy  were  sat- 
isfied with  making  a  living  by  earnings  of  vice 
and  petty  crimes.  It  was  learned  that  a  boy  who 
was  permitted  to  go  on  in  his  own  way  would  have 
no  useful  training  for  later  work.  The  seventy 
boys  followed  the  rule  of  men  in  wrong-doing. 
"No  man  is  guilty  until  caught,"  is  the  general 
rule  of  men  who  make  it  a  business  of  stealing. 

The  progress  of  any  humanitarian  legislation 
is  gradual. 

No  one  ever  stopped  to  make  inquiry  about  a 
newsboy.  He  lived  in  a  business,  and  social  cir- 
cle, all  by  himself.  He  was  left  to  shift  for  him- 
self and  in  a  most  unequal  battle. 

When  investigation  revealed  the  deplorable 
fact  that  seventy  per  cent,  of  our  newsboys  were 
being  educated  and  trained  with  their  faces  to- 


BOYVILLE.  167 

wards  jails  and  penitentiaries,  the  question  arose, 
how  can  we  reduce  this  number,  how  can  we  turn 
their  faces  towards  a  better  Hfe,  a  happier  condi- 
tion, a  deHghtful  ending?  How  make  them  hon- 
orable citizens,  good  men,  loved  by  all  who  know 
them,  an  honor  to  themselves,  to  their  parents, 
their  friends,  the  State  and  city  in  which  they 
live  ? 

The  problem  solved  itself  in  personal  exper- 
iences, convincing  us  that  we  must  try  to  catch 
the  candidates  for  prison  before  they  have  been 
debased  and  to  keep  them  decent.  "It  is  the 
Christian,  decent,  brotherly  way  for  one  thing, 
and  it  is  the  cheapest  way  in  dollars  and  cents  for 
another." 

It  is  a  rule,  rather  than  an  exception,  that 
people  have  always  considered  a  newsboy  bad,  and 
he  is  therefore  treated  accordingly. 

Everybody  knows  or  can  soon  learn  to  know, 
that  the  street  is  the  great  school  of  crime.  Bet- 
ting and  gambling  are  typical  of  the  combination 
of  work  and  play  of  man  and  boy  that  street  work 
produces. 

One  of  the  greatest  evils  of  the  street  was  that 
of  begging;  of  boys  working  on  the  sympathies 


i68  BOYVILLE. 

of  the  public  by  taking  advantage  of  men  and 
women  on  street-cars  or  in  public  places. 

Some  boys  made  a  business  of  begging,  the 
majority  not  from  their  own  choice,  but  by  com- 
pulsion of  their  parents. 

One  boy  in  particular  was  doing  more  to  in- 
jure the  success  of  the  association's  work  on  the 
street  than  hundreds  of  others  who  were  bad  in 
other  lines. 

The  father  of  this  boy  would  wait  until  the 
theatres  were  out,  at  night,  and  instruct  the  boy 
to  ''work  the  car,"  by  begging,  and  if  that  failed 
by  forcing  papers  upon  young  men  who  were 
compelled  to  purchase  what  they  did  not  want. 

It  took  some  time,  almost  a  year,  to  stop  this 
kind  of  business,  and  then  the  president  had  to 
call  upon  the  efficient  Humane  officer  to  stop  if. 
As  every  case  of  begging  was  traced  to  the  fault 
of  parents  the  Humane  Society  had  to  deal  direct- 
ly with  them. 

The  Boyville  association  gradually  stamped 
this  evil  entirely  out. 

To  stop  begging,  stealing,  swearing  and 
gambling,  four  leading  street  evils  among  the 
newsboys  and  in  guiding  the  footsteps  of  these 
little  wanderers,  for  this  they  are  when  seen  upon 


TWO    NEW    MEMBERS. 


BOYVILLE.  169 

the  streets  of  our  great  cities,  that  Boyville  came 
into  existence,  and  it  is  to  co-operate,  when  it 
is  possible  or  desirable,  with  the  parents  and  the 
home  in  reclaiming  boys  who  have  gone  astray  or 
are  likely  to  follow  paths  that  lead  to  ruin. 

There  is  no  greater,  stronger  sign  of  love  to 
young  or  old  than  when  a  friend  gives  a  warn- 
ing in  the  right  spirit. 

The  children  of  Israel  had  no  better  friend 
than  Moses,  and  when  they  obeyed  his  warning 
they  never  went  astray.  We  may  be  wrong  in 
our  liberal  methods  of  giving  to  charity ;  we  may 
be  wrong  in  dropping  pennies  into  the  hats  of 
the  street  beggars — the  blind — the  lame — the 
crippled  who  stand  or  sit  on  our  public  streets 
pleading  in  a  tone  of  experience;  and  we  may 
be  satisfying  an  ever-warning  conscience;  but 
there  is  one  thing  certain,  we  can  never  make  a 
mistake  by  warning  a  newsboy  from  doing  any- 
thing wrong — from  stealing,  lying,  swearing,  or 
gambling,  and  it  is  always  wise  and  safe  to  give 
a  boy  the  right  start  in  life. 

In  every  city,  with  a  population  of  one  hun- 
dred thousand  or  more,  thirty  per  cent,  of  the 
newsboys,  the  sellers,  have  no  homes  or  their 
homes  are  worse  than  none  at  all.     If  men  and 


170  BOYVILLE. 

women  would  stop  to  think,  to  investigate,  listen 
to  the  stories  as  told  by  these  street  boys;  of  the 
wants,  miseries  and  degradation  in  the  sad  con- 
ditions that  surround  many  of  them ;  these  dirty, 
ragged  boys  would  receive  a  more  Christian-like 
attention  and  care.  If  your  nature  to  mingle  with 
the  meek  and  lowly  is  forced,  if  your  mission  for 
doing  good  in  this  world  is  cast  in  other  fields, 
where  better  results  may  be  reached,  you  can  take 
a  personal  interest  in  seeing  that  those  who  are 
familiar  with  work  among  street  boys,  and  who 
delight  in  trying  to  aid  them,  are  given  proper 
encouragement  and  assistance  so  that  their  work 
may  be  carried  on  successfully. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

A  few  months'  experience  with  boys  who 
spend  most  of  their  Hves  upon  the  street,  and  pride 
themselves  on  being  tough,  will  teach  one  a  great 
lesson.  You  will  learn  you  cannot  reach  a  boy 
unless  you  get  near  him,  are  of  his  kind ;  and  the 
most  lasting  and  truest  friendship,  and  through 
which  you  can  gain  the  best  results,  is  where  you 
place  a  boy  under  personal  obligations  to  you, 
through  kindness.  You  may  buy  him  for  money, 
but  he  does  not  look  upon  you  with  the  same  in- 
terest and  confidence  as  when  you  gain  his  love 
through  personal  attention.  The  boy  must  be  un- 
derstood. No  two  boys  are  alike.  Though  many 
are  endowed  with  similar  characteristics,  each  has 
his  own  individuality.  The  trees  are  not  all  of 
one  kind.  Even  the  leaves  on  the  same  tree  differ 
in  size  and  contour.  One  tree  in  the  writer's 
yard,  one  of  the  choicest  of  plums ;  a  long  branch 
sprouted  out  every  spring  and  grew  so  rapidly 
that  before  the  leaves  in  the  fall  began  to  show 
signs  of  decay,  it  became  strong  and  reached 
several  feet  beyond  any  other  branch.  It  made 
the   tree   look   awkward,   unnatural,    but   when 


172  BOYVILLE. 

trimmed  down,  even  with  the  others,  it  produced 
more  and  better  fruit  than  any  other  portion  of 
the  tree.  The  boys  are  hke  the  birds  who  are  un- 
hke  in  plumage  and  song;  the  flowers  in  color 
and  fragrance,  and  yet  nature  would  not  be 
perfect  were  it  not  for  these  different  lines  of 
beauty,  strength,  and  fragrance. 

In  the  cultivation  of  plants  the  gardner  con- 
siders the  nature  and  needs  of  different  stages  of 
growth,  furnishing  the  nourishment  and  care  that 
will  be  most  helpful  just  at  that  time.  So  in  boy- 
hood we  observe  various  stages  of  development, 
whose  natures  and  needs  must  be  studied  that  we 
may  properly  provide  for  them. 

It  has  been  said :  "That  the  home,  the  church, 
the  school  with  their  natural  and  uplifting  influ- 
ences have  been  responsible  in  the  past,  and  must 
continue  to  be  in  the  future,  for  the  manhood  and 
womanhood  of  this  nation."  It  is  a  well-known 
fact  that  the  home  sometimes  fails,  or  there  is  no 
home,  or  one  which  the  church  and  the  school  do 
not  reach.  There  are  times  when  even  these  have 
no  power  over  a  boy's  acts.  A  boy  who  violates 
the  laws  of  the  land  is  answerable  not  to  the  home, 
the  church  or  the  school,  but  to  the  State. 


BOYVILLE.  173 

Crime  among  boys,  in  America,  is  greatly  on 
the  increase.  The  reports,  official  and  unofficial, 
that  are  made  public,  of  the  per  cent,  of  the  crim- 
inals serving  time  in  our  jails,  workhouses,  re- 
form schools,  and  even  our  penitentiaries,  are  as- 
tounding, and  almost  beyond  belief. 

How  to  check  this  is  a  problem  of  the  great- 
est importance,  and  it  cannot  be  solved  without 
the  hearty  co-operation  of  every  person. 

Among  the  first  things  to  be  done  must  be 
the  recognition  of  the  power  of  home  and  our 
neighbors.  We  cannot  live  without  our  neighbor. 
Each  home  depends  upon  some  other  home;  and 
when  the  boy  leaves  his  home  to  go  upon  the 
street,  he  is  at  once  overcome  by  the  stronger 
power  and  influence  of  a  boy  of  some  other  home, 
and,  perhaps  where  the  rearing  and  training  was 
not  good.  The  boy  is  a  result  more  or  less,  of  all 
influences  and  environment  of  the  lives  of  his 
companions.  Every  good  mother  recalls  the  pang 
that  came  over  her  heart  when  for  the  first  time 
she  led  her  boy  to  school,  knowing  that  her  in- 
fluence must  be  shared  with  that  of  the  teacher. 
It  is  not  long  until  the  boy  quotes  his  teacher,  and 
sometimes  in  defiance,  when  he  says :  "My  teach- 
er says  so  an'  so."    And  how  many  times  we  hear 


174  BOYVILLE. 

this  from  the  boy  when  away  from  home,  more 
frequently  than  the  sayings  of  his  mother.  The 
boys  school  life  soon  begins  to  develop  self-reli- 
ance, full  of  possibilities,  of  curiosity  and  quest- 
ionings, the  period  of  formation  of  thoughts, 
feelings  and  desires.  And  when  a  boy  reaches 
that  stage  in  his  life  when  he  is  permitted  to  go 
down  town  alone — he  at  once  begins  a  new  life. 
And  there  is  not  a  mother  in  our  country  but 
who  makes  this  pleading  request  to  her  son  as  he 
is  about  to  start:    "Don't  go  into  bad  company." 

It  is  on  this  line  that  the  Newsboys'  Associa- 
tion, with  all  its  varied  interests  and  objects, 
through  its  many  channels  of  work,  backed  with 
that  true  spirit  of  Christianity  characteristic  of 
everything  that  means  good,  with  the  aid  of  its 
president  and  its  many  working  officers,  in  the 
name  of  God  and  humanity,  aims  to  make  the 
bad  boy  of  the  streets  of  our  cities  and  towns 
good,  so  that  the  mother  will  not  find  it  necessary 
to  say:  "Now,  my  dear  son,  don't  go  into  bad 
company." 

Let  us  all  hope,  and  pray,  and  work  for  the 
time  to  come  when  there  will  be  no  "bad  compa- 
ny" on  the  streets. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

At  one  of  the  auxiliary  meetings  the  question 
was  asked  a  carrier,  why  the  association  "kicked 
against  drinking  whiskey  when  my  father  drinks 
four  times  a  day."  In  a  talk  at  the  meeting  the 
vice-president  said :  "Your  father  may  have  been 
a  respected  citizen.  He  was  all  right  when  he 
started  out,  but  today  he  is  a  physical  wreck,  I 
know  him.  He  drinks  too  much.  He  paid  no  at- 
tention to  warning.  Perhaps  he  had  no  one  to 
tell  him.  He  trembles  now,  and  I  have  seen  him 
fall  to  the  ground,  helpless.  Some  day  he  will 
fall  and  get  up  no  more.  Every  boy  has  in  his 
mind  a  real  desire  to  do  good,  but  if  you  start  in 
life  as  a  whiskey  drinker,  if  you  stand  around  and 
see  your  friends  drink  without  giving  them  a 
warning,  some  day  you  will  regret  it,  something 
will  come  up  in  your  life  to  remind  you  of  your 
carlessness,  your  lost  opportunity  to  help  a  fellow 
being,  and  his  ruin  means  more  to  you  than  you 
think  it  does. 

"There  was  a  man  once  rowing  in  a  small  boat 
above  Niagara  Falls,  where  the  water  was  quiet. 
He  got  funny  and  ventured  down  stream  too  far 


176  BOYVILLE. 

until  he  got  into  the  current  and  not  having 
strength  enough  to  pull  out  of  it,  he  was  going 
faster  and  every  second  he  saw  certain  destruc- 
tion ahead  of  him.  It  was  too  late  for  him  to 
think  and  act.  The  thinking  should  have  been 
done  up  the  river  on  peaceful  waters.  So  you 
boys  better  do  your  thinking  now  if  you  don't 
want  to  follow  that  kind  of  people  over  the  brink. 
No,  boys,  don't  drink  intoxicating  liquors,  don't 
start  it,  cut  it  out,  forget  it. 
/  We  do  not  believe  that  temperance  is  really 
promoted  by  compulsion,  but  this  we  do  know, 
that  the  boy  who  will  let  whiskey  and  all  spirits 
alone  is  very  fortunate,  and  has  a  bright,  happy 
future.  He  is  the  boy  who  will  succeed;  he  is 
the  young  man  that  is  wanted ;  he  will  be  the  man 
to  be  trusted '' 


"TENEMENTS    ON    THE    AVENUE." 

IN  THESE  OLD  BUILDINGS,  AT  ONE  TIME,   LIVED 

SEVENTEEN   FAMILIES. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

The  problem  of  the  boy  is  a  great  one,  and 
the  more  we  have  to  do  with  his  Hfe  upon  the 
street  the  greater  the  task  of  solution  becomes. 
It  is  said  that  two  great  factors  make  the  sum  of 
human  life — heredity  and  environment.  We  are 
told  that  if  you  will  gather  up  soil  from  the  arctic 
regions  and  carry  it  on  a  steamer  southward,  you 
will  soon  see  it  covered  with  vegetation.  If  the 
soil  of  the  tropics  is  taken  to  the  frozen  regions  of 
Franz  Joseph  Land,  it  will  become  barren.  The 
soil  of  both  regions  is  full  of  heredity,  but  the 
difference  of  environment  greatly  modifies  the 
result.  There  are  in  all  of  us  hereditary  tenden- 
cies to  both  vice  and  virtue,  and  under  favorable 
surroundings,  these  tendencies  will  be  either  dor- 
mant or  developed. 

A  thief  may  come  from  a  morally  healthy  fam- 
ily, a  happy  prosperous  home,  but  he  is  an  un- 
healthy exception  not  the  rule.  It  is  the  offense 
of  our  day  that  the  tendency  of  life  is  toward  des- 
truction of  character.  The  crowding  of  popula- 
tion to  the  cities,  is  gradually  destroying  the  home 
feeling.     This  rapidly  increasing  rush  from  the 


178  BOYVILLE. 

country  and  small  towns  to  the  centres  of  indi- 
vidual energy,  brings  a  dependent  class  of  boys, 
and  the  official  reports  show  a  significant  in- 
crease in  the  number  of  juvenile  criminals,  from 
small  towns,  and  also  that  they  are  much  younger 
than  formerly.  This  does  not  mean  that  the  en- 
ergetic young  man  of  the  country  should  stay 
away  from  the  cities,  or  should  not  seek  employ- 
ment or  business  in  a  city;  it  simply  means  that 
christian  people  should  take  a  greater  personal 
interest  in  trying  to  make  the  boy  good  before  he 
leaves  his  home,  and  that  the  city  people  should 
make  city  life  purer. 

So  long  as  our  best  reputed  citizens,  the  first 
men  of  many  of  our  churches,  own  the  dilapidated 
tenement  houses,  receiving  from  such  occupants  a 
rental  sufficient  to  pay  taxes,  and  without  caring 
who  occupies  the  premises  or  for  what  purposes, 
the  criminal  tendency  must  increase. 

For  a  time  charitably-inclined  people  may 
check  and  partially  correct  an  evil,  but  the  ten- 
dency will  remain,  sure  to  assert  itself  in  one 
form  or  another.  If  the  present  cheap- John  ten- 
ements should  be  wiped  out,  and  it  were  made 
possible  for  the  proper  classes  to  secure  homes  in 
the  country,  modest  as  necessarily  they  would  be, 


BOYVILLE.  179 

it  would  go  a  long  way  towards  correcting  one 
of  the  greatest  evils  of  the  day. 

"The  prison  returns  of  one  of  our  great  States 
show  that  fifty  per  cent,  of  all  young  criminals 
come  from  bad  homes,  from  tenement  houses 
owned  by  rich  men,  and  only  nine  per  cent,  from 
good  homes." 

Since  the  Humane  societies  are  so  well  or- 
ganized, and  doing  such  magnificent  work,  much 
may  be  expected  for  the  better  in  the  condition 
of  the  houses  of  the  poor.  There  are  many  streets 
in  our  great  cities  where  people  shudder  when 
compelled  to  walk,  on  account  of  their  bad  re- 
putation. 

The  tenants  may  be  bad,  but  are  they  worse 
than  the  owners  of  the  property  ?  Have  you  ever 
stopped  to  think  who  owns  a  building  under 
whose  roof  lives  a  dozen  bad  characters  ? 

One  Sunday  morning,  a  gentleman  in  the  city 
was  walking  down  an  avenue  of  considerable 
importance  when  he  was  surprised  to  see  two 
young  newsboys  coming  out  of  the  rear  door  of 
a  saloon,  each  trying  to  keep  the  other  from  fall- 
ing to  the  ground. 

The  building  was  old  and  rickety.    On  the  se:- 


i8o  BOYVILLE. 

ond  floor  were  not  a  half  dozen  whole  panes  of 
glass  in  eight  window  frames. 

Astonished  at  this,  a  question  was  asked,  of 
a  passer-by  who  owned  the  saloon  property? 

"Mr.  owns  all  the  property  on  that 

side  of  the  street.  He  is  now  teaching  a  Sunday- 
school  class  while  boys  are  in  his  building  drink- 
ing. This  thing's  repeated  every  Sunday.  It's 
headquarters  for  young  men." 

I  When  our  leading  men  of  business,  our  weal- 
thy citizens,  men  of  influence,  men  who  stand 
high  in  the  commercial  world,  are  renting  their, 
property  to  persons  who,  for  the  money  they 
make,  are  ruining  hundreds  of  young  lives,  what 
can  we  expect  ?    | 

We  need  an  era  of  enforcement  of  law,  less 
of  pretense,  more  of  purpose.  Whether  the  laws 
be  good  or  bad,  is  not  a  question.  If  they  are 
good,  they  should  be  enforced  for  the  welfare  of 
the  community  and  the  vindication  of  the  State. 
If  they  are  bad,  they  should  be  enforced  so  that 
their  injustice  may  prove  sufficiently  oppressive 
to  lead  to  their  appeal. 

The  saloons  will  always  be  with  us,  and  so 
long  as  the  State,  and  the  city  receive  the  price  for 
their  existence,  and  grant  them  recognition  and 


BOYVILLE.  i8i 

endorsement,  they  should  be  protected  in  accord- 
ance with  the  laws  governing  their  business,  but 
beyond  all  this,  there  is  a  law,  a  moral  law,  a  law 
of  decency,  of  respect,  for  the  welfare  and  hap- 
piness of  mankind,  that  should  appeal  to  every 
man  engaged  in  the  selling  of  liquors. 

Five  men,  of  our  acquaintance,  engaged  in 
the  saloon  business,  have  for  many  years  mutu- 
ally agreed  to  do  certain  things.  They  do  not 
open  their  places  of  business  on  Sunday.  They 
do  not  admit  a  minor  into  their  saloons  for  any 
cause.  They  will  not  sell  liquor  to  a  man  who 
shows  the  least  sign  of  being  intoxicated. 

If  every  man  engaged  in  the  saloon  business 
would  follow  to  the  letter  these  few  simple  rules, 
thousands  of  good  wives,  and  innocent  children 
would  be  happy,  and  the  influence  for  good  could 
not  be  estimated.  Our  Sunday-closing  laws 
should  be  enforced. 

The  lives  of  a  majority  of  men,  hard-working 
men,  are  dreary  enough  for  six  days  of  the  week 
without  having  all  of  the  desolation  compressed 
into  the  seventh  and  drilled  into  them  through 
the  avarice  of  selfish  men  who  aim  to  take  advan- 
tage of  a  man  under  the  influence  of  liquor,  and 


i82  BOYVILLE. 

take  from  him  his  last  cent  and  then  throw  him 
into  the  street. 

We  are  learning  to  regard  the  majority  of 
youthful  offenders,  especially  in  our  large  cities, 
as  the  victims  of  environment,  sufferers  from  lack 
of  opportunity  for  good.  In  nine  cases  out  of 
ten,  boys  who  are  found  in  saloons  come  from 
well-to-do  families,  and  are  permitted  to  be  there 
through  neglect  and  carelessness  of  their  parents. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

A  question  is  often  asked,  why  young  men  do 
not  more  frequently  attend  church  services.  May 
not  one  of  these  reasons  be  traced  to  neglect  and 
carelessness  on  the  part  of  the  parents?  Nothing 
in  the  religious  world  can  be  more  important 
than  the  proper  training  of  young  men.  It  is  said 
that  the  only  place  where  real  religion  can  be 
taught  is  in  the  home.  By  this  it  is  not  meant 
religious  forms,  but  real  religion.  To  go  to 
church  every  Sunday  and  sing  religious 
hymns  and  listen  to  eloquent  sermons  is 
not  all  there  is  to  religion.  The  formation  of 
character,  the  stimulus  of  the  moral  sentiments 
must  be  done  largely  outside  of  the  doors  of  the 
church.  To  assist  in  building  up  the  boy  who 
roams  our  streets  at  will,  and  to  take  an  interest 
in  and  to  encourage  the  boy  to  live  up  to  and  fol- 
low the  instructions  he  receives  at  his  home,  is, 
indeed,  to  practice  real  religion. 

It  is  a  well-known  fact,  often  repeated  by  the 
guards  at  our  penitentiaries,  that  no  man  ever 
entered  these  institutions  but  what  at  sometime 
or  other  declared  that,  if  he  had  followed  the 


i84  BOYVILLE. 

admonition  and  religious  instructions  of  his  fa- 
ther and  mother,  his  Hfe  would  have  been  differ- 
ent. If  father  and  mother  do  not  practice  in  their 
daily  lives  this  real  religion,  and  if  the  boy  is  not 
brought  up  to  believe  that  some  people  are  to  be 
avoided,  and  held  in  contempt,  all  the  churches 
in  the  world  cannot  correct  such  mistakes,  be- 
cause they  have  but  few  hours  one  day  in  a  week 
to  accomplish  what  six  days  can  undo. 

It  will  be  seen,  then,  how  important  it  is  that 
the  boy  on  the  street,  whether  he  comes  from  a 
good  religious  home  or  a  bad  home,  should  be 
watched  and  carefully  guided  and  taught. 

Our  work  in  the  garden  is  not  to  pull  out  on- 
ions, radishes,  tomato  plants,  but  carefully  to  de- 
stroy the  weeds,  and  not  only  those  weeds  that 
are  crowding  the  tender  plants,  but  all  weeds. 
Get  the  wild  sprouts  out,  pull  up  the  weeds  by  the 
roots  and  throw  them  away.  This  a  good  gar- 
dener will  do,  and  he  will  carefully  pull  the  soft, 
rich  earth  around  the  plants  to  brace  them  up. 

If  the  same  interest  is  taken  in  our  newsboys, 
to  pull  out  the  weeds  so  that  the  boy  can  grow, 
it  will  be  doing  what  the  preacher  often  says: 
"A  good  man's  goodness  lies  not  hid  in  himself 


"  I   WILL    BUY    FROM  THE   LITTLE    FELLOW." 


WAITING    FOR    THE    LAST    EDITION. 


Nn* 


BOYVILLE.  185 

alone;  but  when  he  endeavors  to  strengthen  his 
weaker  brother." 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

Men  often  lose  great  opportunities  to  assist 
their  fellow-men  through  neglect,  through  care- 
lessness and  indifference.  It  is  so  easy  to  say, 
"you  have  my  sympathy,  you  are  doing  a  noble 
work,"  when  many  times  the  speaker  may  be 
better  adapted  for  the  same  kind  of  work  and  be 
far  more  successful.  And  so  an  opportunity  is 
allowed  to  slip  by  all  for  the  lack  of  taking  ad- 
vantage of  it. 

The  influence  a  man  or  a  woman  teacher  has 
over  a  boy  is  wonderful.  In  the  eyes  of  a  boy,  a 
teacher  stands  for  a  model  of  perfection  and  is 
supposed  to  be  in  reality,  in  daily  life  and  actions, 
what  he  seems  to  be  when  he  shows  his  best  side 
to  the  pupils. 

From  the  school,  from  the  teacher,  from  a 
trusted  friend,  the  boy  carries  the  influence  back 
to  the  family,  into  his  daily  life  upon  the  streets, 
and  many  of  the  teachings  follow  him  through 
life.  The  boy  at  school  is  taught  to  be  kind,  to  be 
generous,  and  to  remember  his  little  friends 
whenever  opportunity  favors.  Heartfelt  sympa- 
thy in  a  newsboy,  comes  like  a  flash  of  lightning, 


BOYVILLE.  187 

and  he  is  ever  ready  to  fall  in  line  when  the  boys 
want  to  remember  a  friend.  The  president  was 
taken  by  surprise  one  day  when  the  street  sellers, 
the  poorest  of  our  newsboys,  through  one  of  their 
hustlers,  presented  him  with  a  gold  badge.  The 
money  to  purchase  it  was  raised  by  subscriptions 
from  the  boys,  in  amounts  ranging  from  two  cents 
to  twenty-five.  A  few  days  after  the  presentation 
the  president  was  walking  on  one  of  the  main 
streets  when  he  was  accosted  by  a  little  seller, 
from  the  opposite  side  of  the  street. 

"Say,  president,  come  over  here." 

A  boy  never  called  the  president  to  go  where 
he  wanted  him  to  go  but  he  complied  at  once,  and 
cheerfully.  The  little  ragged  fellow  stepped  in 
front  of  him  and  said : 

'Tres.,  have  youse  got  de  gold  badge  we  gives 
you?" 

"Yes,  here  it  is,"  and  the  badge  was  taken 
from  the  coat  and  handed  to  the  boy.  Looking  at 
it  closely,  and  calling  several  companions  to  him, 
he  said : 

"Pres.,  youse  see  that  diamond  in  the  center?" 
pointing  a  dirty  finger  to  it. 

"Yes,  sir,  we  all  see  it,  and  it's  a  beauty." 

"Well,  you  see,"  he  said  straightening  up 


i88  BOYVILLE. 

above  his  natural  height,  "I  subscribed  four  cents 
to  this  here  badge,  and  all  the  boys  put  up  the 
dough.  When  I  went  home  and  thought  it  over, 
I  says  to  myself,  we  ought  to  have  a  bigger  badge 
than  this  fur  our  president.  So  when  I  comes 
down  town  I  see  de  boys  and  we  concluded  to  have 
a  diamond  put  in  the  center.  It  met  wid  de  kids 
'proval,  and  it  was  done.    You  see  de  diamond?" 

"Yes,"  replied  a  dozen  voices. 

"Well,  I  blowed  eleven  cents  in  it,"  he  proudly 
replied.    Adding,  "Ain't  it  a  bird?" 

Happy  youth. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

How  many  prayers  have  been  offered  for  the 
salavation  of  the  slums ;  how  many  sighs  and  ex- 
pressions of  regret  and  sympathy  have  been 
given,  by  well-meaning  people,  for  the  ''poor  and 
unhealthy  boys  of  the  slums." 

Those  who  are  familiar,  and  it  is  to  be  re- 
gretted that  they  are  so  few,  with  the  real  con- 
ditions of  these,  supposed,  unhealthy  and  cer- 
tainly unpleasant  districts,  will  substantiate  the 
declaration  that  the  boys  who  live  there,  in  these 
ill-favored  spots,  and  who  have  followed  the  vo- 
cation of  selling  papers  or  shining  shoes,  until 
they  arrived  at  that  age  when  it  was  necessary 
to  seek  other  and  more  lucrative  employment, 
are  ninety  per  cent,  healthier  and  stronger  and 
better  able  to  fight  disease  than  boys  raised  in  the 
most  sanitary  districts  and  in  wealthy  families. 
The  slums  of  Whitechapel  and  Westminster,  in 
London,  inhabitated  by  a  squalid  and  criminal 
population,  as  well  as  the  slums  in  New  York  and 
other  American  cities,  maintain  a  healthier  con- 
dition among  the  inhabitants. 


190  BOYVILLE. 

In  a  period  of  six  years,  with  an  enrollment 
of  two  hundred  and  fifty  newsboys,  who  belonged 
to  the  sellers  auxiliary;  a  majority  of  them  living 
in  what  is  called  "the  worst  part  of  the  city,  the 
most  unhealthy ;  the  most  degraded ;  the  most  un- 
desirable," and  boys  who  from  necessity  were 
compelled  to  sell  papers  or  shine  shoes,  thus  re- 
quiring an  almost  daily  appearance  upon  the 
streets  in  all  kinds  of  weather,  there  were  but 
three  cases  of  sickness,  and  but  one  death,  and 
this  death  was  caused  by  an  explosion  at  a  Fourth 
of  July  celebration. 

Little  Barney  Frank,  one  of  the  brightest  and 
most  promising  members  of  the  association  died 
January  28,  1903,  having  been  injured  by  a  toy 
cannon. 

The  president  attended  the  funeral  of  this 
little  boy  and  being  asked  to  say  something  touch- 
ing the  life  of  his  friend,  he  said: 

''Barney  was  an  exceptionally  bright  and 
happy  boy,  loved  by  his  companions,  and  almost 
worshiped  by  his  heart-broken  parents.  His 
happy  disposition,  his  smiles  and  great  interest 
in  his  fellow  newsboys  will  live  forever  in  the 
hearts  of  those  who  knew  him.  It  is  often  asked 
why  are  the  young  and  innocent  taken  from  us? 


BOYVILLE.  191 

Some  of  us  believe  that  the  road  to  heaven  opens 
wide  to  welcome  little  boys. 

"One  of  the  most  pleasing  remembrances  of 
Barney's  life  was  shown  in  the  following  incident. 
It  was  a  cold  November  evening,  with  a  heavy 
fall  of  rain  and  sleet.  I  was  standing  in  the  street 
looking  for  a  car  to  take  me  home,  when  little 
Barney  came  running  to  me  and  said:  'You  go 
in  the  store,  in  a  dry  place,  I'll  watch  for  the  car 
and  I'll  call  you,'  and  in  spite  of  protestations,  he 
stood  in  the  rain  until  the  car  passed.  So  it  was 
always  with  Barney,  ever  looking  after  the  hap- 
piness of  his  friends." 

They  took  the  remains  to  another  town,  and 
buried  him  in  a  village  graveyard.  There  he  rests 
in  peace.  In  summer  the  grass  grows  green  and 
the  daisies  and  violets  keep  watch ;  and  in  a  tree, 
whose  branches  shade  the  unmarked  grave,  there 
comes  a  robin  red-breast,  and  every  morning  at 
the  rising  of  the  sun,  and  every  evening  just  as 
the  sun  is  sinking  behind  the  hills,  he  sings  his 
song  of  love. 

Who  knows  but  that  it  is  an  angel  who  comes 
to  the  grave  of  that  little  newsboy.  ? 


BILLY   BUTCHER,   WE    MUST  HAVE  AN   UNDERSTANDIN   , 
WHICH  CORNER  OB   DE  STREET  WILL   YOU   TAKE?" 


TART    SEVENTH 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

After  more  than  fifteen  years'  experience 
among  the  newsboys  we  can  say  with  consider- 
able force,  that  the  only  way  to  give  substantial 
assistance  |to  the  poor  boy  is  to  give  him  a  start 
in  life,  helping  him  to  work  his  own  way  through 
a  hundred  little  temptations  that  would  easily  lead 
him  wrong,  j  Today  Boyville  Association  boasts 
that  it  has  driven  from  the  streets  of  a  great  city 
all  kinds  of  begging,  gambling,  swearing,  smok- 
ing cigarettes,  and  instead  of  insulting,  impudent 
newsboys,  we  have  the  finest  lot  of  gentlemanly 
young  business  men  in  the  world. 

How  to  carry  on  successfully  work  of  this 
kind,  with  results  as  previously  stated,  is  the  de- 
sire and  wish  of  thousands  of  people  in  our  coun- 
try today.  A  person  must  bring  himself  in  touch 
with  the  boy,  he  must  learn  his  ways,  his  habits, 
by  so  doing  he  learns  the  best  way  to  approach 
him  and  gain  his  confidence.  This  done,  the  rest 
is  easy,  because  the  boy  works  with  you  and  you 
simply  guide. 

\  Education    cannot    be    given,    it    must    be 
achieved,  and  the  value  of  an  education  lies  not 


196  BOYVILLE. 

only  in  the  possession,  but  also  in  the  struggle  to 
secure  it.  I 

Everybody  knows  that  the  infallible  receipt 
for  happiness,  is  to  do  good,  and  under  the  right 
conditions  it  is  as  natural  for  character  to  become 
beautiful  as  for  a  flower.  In  scores  of  instances  it 
has  been  seen  that  the  principles  early  established 
in  the  minds  of  the  street-boys,  especially  where 
they  are  watched  by  their  companions,  and 
warned  when  they  do  something  wrong,  leave  a 
lasting  impression  that  time  cannot  efface. 

Life  is  full  of  opportunities  for  the  young  man 
to  do  good,  and  if  in  his  early  career  he  begins 
to  do  right  it  soon  becomes  part  of  his  life.  The 
street-boys  who  first  join  the  association  are  so 
gradually  led  into  the  good  fellowship  of  their 
own  making  that  the  toughest  natures  thaw  out, 
they  are  subjugated,  submit  cheerfully  to  the  con- 
trolling powers  of  truth  and  honesty.  Their  man- 
ners soften,  their  words  become  more  gentle  and 
their  actions  show  a  willingness  to  be  little  gentle- 
men. The  good  that  is  in  them  is  brought  out 
by  their  own  unselfish  acts,  and  the  hidden  sleep- 
ing humanity  bursts  into  a  fuller  life. 

Today  it  takes  a  high  order  of  men  to  suc- 
ceed. 


BOYVILLE.  197 

With  the  world  as  a  competitor,  where  profits 
are  figured  by  fractions,  it  requires  young  men 
of  brains,  combined  with  hard  common  sense, 
men  of  good  moral  characters,  and  a  willingness 
to  work. 

For  a  young  man  to  reach  a  rich  inheritance 
he  must  work;  he  must  remember  that  the  root 
qualities  of  character  are  sobriety,  industry,  un- 
selfish economy,  and  he  must  be  honest  in  all 
that  the  word  implies.  Swearing,  stealing, 
grafting  inclinations,  expecting  something  for 
nothing,  smoking  cigarettes  or  drinking  intoxi- 
cating liquors  will  prevent  securing  good  posi- 
tions. 

~  Already  some  of  our  great  railroad  systems 
will  not  employ  a  young  man  who  drinks  intoxi- 
cating liquors,  or  smoke  cigarettes ;  and  some  go 
so  far  as  to  forbid  swearing  while  on  duty. 

To  gain  this  rich  inheritance,  to  build  up  the 
boy  who  has  no  chance  in  life,  who,  in  many 
cities,  is  regarded  as  a  sort  of  a  pest,  something 
to  be  kicked  and  cuffed  out  of  the  way,  is  the  great 
aim  of  the  Boyville  Newsboys'  Association.  It 
is  a  kindergarten  in  the  great  school  of  business 
and  citizenship,  and  many  years  experience  proves 
conclusively  not  only  that  the  boy  of  the  street  is 


198  BOYVILLE. 

capable  of  conquering  himself,  and  of  mastering 
his  own  will-power,  but  also  that  he  can  assist  his 
companions,  to  be  honest,  patriotic,  and  self-re- 
liant. 

Many  a  boy  goes  astray  simply  because  home 
lacks  sunshine.  If  home  is  the  place  where  faces 
are  sour  and  words  harsh,  and  the  boy  is  continu- 
ally hampered  with  dont's  and  censures,  he  will 
spend  as  many  hours  as  possible  elsewhere.  A 
personal  investigation  of  twenty  homes  of  boys 
who  were  upon  the  streets  a  greater  portion  of 
their  time,  especially  at  meal  hours  or  after  nine 
o'clock  at  night,  revealed  the  fact  that  nine  boys 
were  away  from  their  homes  on  account  of  there 
being  no  restriction  on  the  part  of  the  parents. 
These  nine  families  did  not  know,  did  not  care,  at 
what  hour  their  sons  returned  at  night,  or  wheth- 
er they  were  at  home  at  meal  hours  or  not. 

Home  should  keep  in  sympathy  with  a  boy. 
His  little  troubles,  his  sorrows  are  made  much 
easier  and  lighter  through  attention  and  sympa- 
thy, and  if  the  boy  can't  get  this  at  home  he  will 
go  elsewhere;  and  he  will  often  find  it  in  society 
he  would  otherwise  shun.  No  boy  ever  grows  too 
old  for  love.  And  should  the  boy  seek  compan- 
ionship in  our  crowded  streets  and  discover  some 


BOYVILLE.  199 

one  in  whom  he  can  place  confidence,  his  whole 
life  is  wrapped  up  in  that  love. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

In  the  Boyville  Association  it  has  always  been 
the  rule  that,  no  matter  how  great  a  wrong  com- 
mitted by  a  boy,  and  the  fine  or  sentence  be  what 
it  may,  if  the  boy  looks  forward  to  doing  better, 
to  putting  his  whole  soul  into  trying  to  do  right, 
if  he  hates  and  despises  the  act  committed,  that 
boy  has  a  right  to  be  honorably  reinstated,  and  is 
heartily  welcomed  back  to  his  friends. 

\  "Often"  says  a  thoughtful  writer,  "men  and 
omen  mourn  over  past  wrong-doings  with 
which  their  present  identity  has  no  connection.'fC— 

A  good  preacher  once  asked  a  despondent  soul, 
whose  life  was  shadowed  by  a  wrong  committed 
in  early  years :  "Would  you  do  the  same  thing 
again  ?" 

"Do  it  again?"  answered  the  man,  "No,  a 
thousand  times,  no." 

"Then,"  said  the  preacher,  "You  have  out- 
grown the  conditions  that  caused  the  wrong-do- 
ing, and  you  are  no  longer  responsible  for  it." 

The  best  way  to  correct  wrong-doing  is  to 
prevent  it,  to  warn  a  boy  against  the  evil  vices 


I  i^duf"^  r-./ 


HE  WAS    FISHING   IN  THE  LAKE. 


See  Page  205 


BOYVILLE.  201 

that  tend  to  his  ruin  in  later  years.  And  one  way 
to  prevent  crime  is  to  reward  virtue. 

Hon.  Ben.  B.  Lindsey,  of  Denver,  Colorado, 
Judge  of  the  County  and  Juvenile  Court  of  Den- 
ver, after  many  years  of  hard  work,  intermingled 
with  the  kind  of  experience  that  brings  good  re- 
sults, declares  that  in  the  work  of  the  Juvenile 
Court  he  has  found  a  way  to  make  our  boys  of 
today,  who  are  inclined  to  be  bad,  follow  paths  of 
virtue  and  honesty  that  will  lead  them  to  good 
and  honorable  citizenship,  and  his  success  has 
been  along  the  same  self-governing  plan  of  the 
Boyville  Association. 

We  do  not  think  there  has  been  a  more  inter- 
esting official  report  nor  one  of  so  great  a  value 
to  the  thinking  people  as  the  publication  of  "The 
Problem  of  the  Children  and  How  the  State  of 
Colorado  Cares  for  them,"  by  Hon.  Ben.  B.  Lind- 
sey. 

"Power  under  any  law,"  writes  Judge  Lind- 
sey, "may  be  abused.  Mistakes  under  any  law 
may  be  made.  No  system  is  perfect.  If  any  con- 
ceives the  idea  that  the  Juvenile  Court  was  cre- 
ated for  the  purpose  of  correcting  or  reforming 
every  disorderly  child,  they  are,  of  course,  mis- 
taken.   Jails  and  criminal  courts  never  did  that. 


202  BOYVILLE. 

On  the  contrary,  criminality  among  the  youth  of 
this  country  has  been  amazingly  on  the  increase. 
Over  half  of  the  inmates  of  jails,  reformatories 
and  prisons  combined  are  under  twenty-four 
years  of  age.  They  are  there  largely  because  of 
uncorrected  delinquency  in  childhood.  While  the 
Juvenile  Court  and  probation  system  will  not, 
and  cannot,  entirely  overcome  delinquency  and 
waywardness,  it  will  do  a  great  deal  better  than 
the  jail  and  criminal  court  ever  did.  The  Juve- 
nile Court  generally  deals  with  cases  in  which 
there  has  been  a  failure  in  the  home,  the  school, 
and  often  the  church.  These  three  institutions 
are  the  places  through  their  various  influences  to 
form  the  character  of  the  child.  The  Juvenile 
Court  is  rather  an  aid  to  the  home  and  the  school 
in  the  moral  training  of  the  child.  If  these  two 
latter  fail,  the  court,  through  its  officers,  can  sup- 
ply the  deficiency.  In  the  Denver  Juvenile  Court 
none  are  convicted  of  crime  or  subjected  to  the 
contamination  of  the  jail. 

"The  Juvenile  Court  does  not  tolerate  the  idea 
of  the  child  being  a  criminal.  It  does  not  con- 
sider the  question  of  punishment  the  important 
thing.  If  the  child  cannot  be  corrected  at  home, 
for  its  own  good  and  for  the  good  of  society  at 


BOYVILLE.  203 

large,  it  is  simply  sent  to  a  State  public  school, 
where  discipHne  is  superior  to  that  of  the  home, 
and  where  it  is  intended  to  correct  waywardness 
and  to  serve  as  an  example  to  prevent  wayward- 
ness in  others.  The  purpose  is,  in  delinquent 
/cases,  to  inspire  and  receive  obedience,  to  im- 
i  prove  and  strengthen  character.  We  never  re- 
lease a  boy  upon  probation  until  he  is  impressed 
with  the  idea  that  he  must  obey.  It  is  explained 
what  the  consequences  will  be  if  he  does  not  obey 
and  keep  his  word.  It  is  kindly,  but  firmly  im- 
pressed why  all  this  is  so,  and  whyT  after  all7Tie 
is  the  one  we  are  most  interested  in  and  that  it  is 
for  him  we  are  working  and  not  against  him.  We 
want  him  to  work  with  us  and  not  against  us.  He 
must,  to  do  this,  obey  in  the  home,  in  the  school, 
and  of  course,  he  must  obey  the  laws  of  the  land 
and  respect  the  rights  of  others.  We  must  know 
that  he  obeys.  We  know  this  by  reports  from  the 
school,  signed  by  the  teacher,  every  two  weeks; 
.  by  reports  from  the  neighborhood,  when  neces- 
sary to  investigate,  and  frequently,  by  reports 
from  the  home,  and,  in  exceptional  cases,  visits 
to  the  home.  And  more  important  than  all  this 
is  the  trust  and  confidence  we  impose  upon  the  boy 
himself  through  the  administrative  work  of  the 


H- 


204  BOYVILLE. 

Court.  We  arouse  his  sense  of  responsibility. 
We  understand  him  as  best  we  can,  and  we  make 
him  understand  us  as  best  we  can." 

Nothing  could  be  said  or  written  of  the  his- 
tory of  Boyville  and  the  intention  of  its  workers 
that  could  explain  the  great  object  in  view  better 
than  the  above  report. 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

There  is  a  city  ordinance  in  Chicago  which 
prohibits  fishing  in  the  lakes  of  the  city  parks,  and 
persons  caught  doing  so  are  treated  as  trespass- 
ers. No  one  would  blame  a  boy  for  wanting  to 
fish. 

A  boy,  ten  years  old,  left  home  with  line  and 
hook  for  one  of  these  artificial  lakes.  After  se- 
curing a  pole  from  the  drift-wood  near-by,  he 
sought  an  inviting  spot  to  fish;  and  amid  the 
green  bushes,  the  songs  of  the  birds  and  the 
breeze  that  brought  sunshine  to  his  young  heart, 
he  cast  his  line  into  the  peaceful  uninhabitated 
waters. 

A  protector  of  the  peace,  a  defender  of  the 
law,  saw  this  little  boy  fishing  in  public  waters. 
While  earnestly  waiting  for  a  bite  the  boy  was 
arrested.  He  was  taken,  by  the  policeman,  to  the 
station.  He  did  not  have  any  friends  to  give  bond 
for  him,  so  they  locked  him  up  and  left  him  there 
all  night  in  a  cell  alongside  of  men  who  were  in 
there  swearing  and  cursing,  using  the  vilest  of 
language.  He  was  placed  with  hardened  people 
whose  association  could  not  be, anything  but  in- 


2o6  BOYVILLE. 

jurious  to  a  ten-year-old  boy.  Next  day  he  was 
brought  into  PoHce  Court,  accused  of  fishing  in 
the  lake,  sentenced  for  violating  this  great  and 
important  law  of  the  city  of  Chicago,  and  sent  to 
the  work-house,  to  serve  a  time  in  the  city  prison. 

This  was  twenty  years  ago,  and,  just  such  in- 
cidents as  this,  caused  good  honest-thinking  peo- 
ple to  try  to  introduce  something  that  would  pro- 
tect and  care  for  similar  cases.  Now,  the  boy  who 
violates  a  law  is  not  arrested  and  placed  in  jail  or 
even  a  Police  Station,  but  under  the  splendid 
Juvenile  Court  system  the  boy  is  brought  into  the 
presence  of  a  judge  who  has  an  opportunity  of 
showing  what  he  would  like  to  do  in  other  courts, 
by  extending  an  encouraging  hand  to  the  way- 
faring boy. 

The  boy  is  greeted  kindly  and  the  strange  feel- 
ing, which  even  men  and  women  have  under  sim- 
ilar circumstances,  is  removed.  Instead  of  the 
judge  looking  stearnly  at  the  criminal,  as  has  been 
too  often  the  custom,  thinking,  perhaps  justly,  the 
dignity  of  the  law  requires  it,  he  kindly  explains 
to  the  boy  where  he  has  made  a  mistake,  where  he 
has  violated  some  law;  and  after  gaining  the 
friendship  and  confidence  of  the  little  offender, 
he  is  placed  in  charge  of  a  kind-hearted  Proba- 


BOYVILLE.  207 

tion  Officer,  who  personally  looks  after  the  in- 
terests and  welfare  of  the  accused.  The  Juvenile 
Court  has  power  to  require  the  boy  to  go  to 
school,  and  the  boy  is  impressed  with  the  fact 
that  it  is  for  his  benefit.  Truant  boys  are  looked 
after  by  this  method,  and  the  Probation  Officer 
goes  so  far  as  to  visit  the  homes  of  the  boys  to 
learn  their  surroundings.  This  has  been  the 
means  of  influencing  many  families  to  take  better 
care  of  their  homes  and  to  keep  things  in  a  neat 
and  tidy  condition.  This  has  never  been  accom- 
plished before  by  any  methods  of  a  legal  nature. 
With  the  valuable  work  of  the  Juvenile  Court 
and  the  Humane  societies,  together  with  the  self- 
governing  plan  of  the  Newsboys  associations,  all 
working  harmoniously,  what  must  naturally  be 
expected  of  the  boy?  The  home  is  the  natural 
environment  in  which  to  develop  a  boy  in  the  di- 
rection of  true,  self-sustaining  manhood;  and  it 
should  furnish  the  conditions  most  likely  to  bring 
about  the  happiest  results,  not  only  to  the  individ- 
ual and  the  family,  but  also  to  the  State.  When 
this  fails,  as  it  often  does,  the  Juvenile  Court  steps 
in  and  the  results  are  wonderful. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

Boyville  has  made  itself  known  to  all  classes 
of  citizens,  and  has  attracted  intelligent  attention 
throughout  the  country.  The  newsboys  have 
learned  to  work  together  harmoniously,  and  this 
is  one  of  the  valuable  secrets  of  human  society 
that  all  must  learn  in  order  to  be  successful  and 
happy.  In  the  auxiliary  monthly  meetings  the 
newsboys  conduct  the  business  with  more  de- 
corum and  intelligence  than  the  average  political 
conventions.  So  much  for  the  self-governing 
plan. 

The  following  interesting  talk  on  "The  Evils 
of  Cigarette  Smoking"  was  part  of  an  address 
delivered  at  one  of  the  Sunday  afternoon  meet- 
ings, and  is  well  worth  the  time  spent  in  reading : 

"Smoking  cigarettes  causes  both  insanity  and 
the  degeneracy  that  ends  in  crime.  The  cigarette 
slave  is  always  enfeebled  in  body,  in  mind,  or  in 
moral  sense,  and  generally  in  all  three.  What- 
ever be  the  cause — whether  it  is  opium  and  other 
drugs  mixed  with  tobacco,  or  oil  created  in  the 
paper  by  burning,  or  the  immediate  absorption  of 
the  nicotine  from  the  lungs  by  the  blood,  to  be 


BOYVILLE.  209 

lodged  in  every  nerve  and  brain-cell  in  the  sys- 
tem— the  fact  remains  beyond  dispute  that  the 
cigarette  is  a  deadly  poison. 

"It  not  only  deprives  the  blood  of  the  proper 
quantity  of  oxygen  and  thus  prevents  its  purifica- 
tion, but  it  also  loads  it  with  filth,  so  that  the  heart 
becomes  clogged  and  the  delicate  convolutions  of 
^  he  brain,  upon  which  the  mind's  attitude  toward 
itellectual  concepts  and  moral  principles  depends, 
're  paralyzed.    Cigarette  smoking  also  creates  a 
perpetual  irritation,  like  unquenchable  thirst,  in 
le  nervous  system.     It  sets  up  a  continual  dis- 
omfort,   a  kind  of  a  gnawing  in  the  nerves, 
hich  makes  the  victim  eternally  uneasy  except 
while  he  is  inhaling  the  poison  into  his  lungs. 
The  result  of  all  this  is,  that  he  lives  in  a  constant 
state  of  nervous  excitement,  which  reacts  upon 
his  poisoned  brain  and  makes  him  incapable  of 
serious  and  consecutive  thought.     His  body  is 
weary  all  the  time,  except  when  it  is  being  stimu- 
lated by  the  alcohol  which  cigarette  slaves  inevit- 
ably seek  and  find,  and  at  last  cannot  do  without. 
It  is  a  fact  that  crime  and  cigarettes  nearly  al- 
ways go  together.     Prison  records  show  that 
crinninals,  almost  without  exception,  are  cigar- 
ette slaves.    Such  is  the  history  of  the  cigarette 


210  BOYVILLE. 

slave,  and  while,  if  he  is  a  natural  man  of  good 
family  history,  education,  intelligence  and  ample 
means,  he  may  avoid  crime,  yet  he  is  in  eternal 
danger.  Boys,  newsboys,  for  your  own  interest 
and  welfare,  for  the  love  you  have  for  your  par- 
ents, if  you  are  cigarette  smokers,  stop  it  at  once. 
If  not — do  not  begin." 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

The  question  is  often  asked:  "Do  you  want 
us  to  go  out  upon  the  streets  and  bring  those  rag- 
ged, dirty  boys  with  us  into  our  churches,  and 
have  them  sit  in  the  same  pew  with  us?" 

No,  indeed,  no.  Both  you  and  the  boys  would 
be  unhappy. 

The  idea  is  for  you  to  take  an  interest  in  pre- 
paring them  for  your  church.  To  shove  them  out 
of  your  way,  into  the  gutter,  and  say,  "they  are 
only  newsboys,"  will  never  bring  these  boys  to 
you  or  into  your  churches.  They  are  the  strayed 
sheep. 

When  upon  the  street  you  meet  these  "dirty 
brats,"  instead  of  avoiding  them,  of  paying  no  at- 
tention to  them,  say  pleasantly,  "Good  morning," 
and  say  it  in  a  tone  that  means  you  are  sincere 
and  really  wish  them  a  very  good  morning.  That 
would  be  easy  and  a  thousand  times  better  than 
to  throw  them  money,  as  you,  perhaps,  have  often 
done,  to  get  rid  of  them,  or  thinking  you  have 
done  them  a  great  act  of  charity.  All  this  costs 
you  nothing. 

Instead  of  having  in  your  heart  the  desire  to 


212  BOYVILLE. 

destroy ;  encourage  the  desire  to  rescue,  to  uplift. 
Instead  of  hating,  cultivate  love.  "Go  forth  into 
the  world  and  seek  for  light  and  light  is  yours." 

If  you  would  learn  the  secret  of  real  happi- 
ness, mingle  with  the  children.  They  are  messen- 
gers which  come  to  bless. 

But  you  must  understand  them.  They  will 
teach  you  things  you  never  knew  or  dreamed  of. 

A  speaker  at  one  of  the  auxiliary  meetings 
asked  a  boy  to  give  him  an  illustration  of,  "who 
is  my  neighbor  ?" 

He  answered:  "This  morning  I  shoveled  off 
the  snow  from  the  sidewalks  in  front  of  our  house. 
After  I  got  through  I  went  across  the  street  and 
cleaned  the  snow  from  the  sidewalks  of  a  widow 
lady.  A  friend  passing  asked  me  'why  I  did  it,' 
I  replied  Svliy,  she's  our  neighbor'." 

We  often  hear  it  said  that  time  is  wasted  in 
trying  to  save  these  newsboys,  not  perhaps  be- 
cause of  the  boy  himself,  but  because  of  that 
which  makes  him  what  he  is.  It  is  argued  that 
his  environment,  the  influences  which  surround 
him  from  the  day  of  his  birth,  will  make  him  a 
criminal  in  spite  of  all  we  can  do. 

The  Bible  holds  man  responsible. 

If  you  kind  reader,  believe  in  God,  believe  in 


BOYVILLE.  213 

the  Bible,  you  will  find  the  divine  law  (Ezekiel 
XXXIII.)  determines  your  personal  responsibil- 
ity. "So  thou,  O  son  of  man,  I  have  set  thee  a 
watchman  unto  the  house  of  Israel;  therefore 
thou  shalt  hear  the  word  at  my  mouth.  If  thou 
dost  not  speak  to  warn  the  wicked  from  his  way, 
that  wicked  man  shall  die  in  his  iniquity ;  but  his 
blood  will  I  require  at  thy  hand.  Nevertheless,  if 
thou  warn  the  wicked  of  his  way  to  turn  from  it ; 
if  he  do  not  turn  from  his  way,  he  shall  die  in  his 
iniquity;  but  thou  hast  delivered  thy  soul." 

Following  down  the  ages  the  same  responsi- 
bility is  required  of  Christians  (James  IV-17)  : 
"To  him  that  knoweth  to  do  good,  and  doeth  it 
not,  to  him  it  is  a  sin." 

The  man  who  fails  to  rise  above  the  level  of 
his  ov/n  selfish  interests  is  the  man  to  whom  these 
apply. 

The  church,  at  large,  today,  is  like  what  Na- 
poleon once  said:  "The  army  that  remains  in 
its  entrenchments  is  beaten."  The  church  re- 
mains mostly  in  its  own  entrenchments  of  con- 
ventional practices  and  indifference  to  the  un- 
saved young  men.  There  is  but  one  remedy  for 
this  present  indifferent  condition,  and  that  is  to 


214  BOYVILLE. 

be  found  in  an  awakening  of  consciousness  of  per- 
sonal responsibility  for  the  salvation  of  the  boy. 

We  need  a  new  doctrine,  not  a  new  law,  that 
will  bring  people  back  to  the  Simple  Life  that  de- 
mands some  self-sacrifice. 

If  we  follow  these  teachings  what  shall  be 
our  reward? 

Do  you  remember  what  Pharaoh's  daughter 
said  when,  winning  that  strange  prize  from  the 
bulrushes,  on  the  Nile;  she  called  to  the  woman 
whose  child  might  have  perished? 

Pharaoh's  daughter  said  to  the  mother: 
"Take  this  child  away,  and  nurse  it  for  me,  and  I 
will  give  thee  thy  wages,"  and  that  message  is 
given  as  the  crown  of  all  motherhood  on  whom 
the  divine  mercy  falls  today.  There  comes  this 
same  message :  "Take  this  child  and  nurse  it  for 
me,  and  I  will  pay  the  thy  wages." 

The  good  that  you  have  done  you  shall  know, 
"not  here,  but  hereafter." 

We  should  never  forget  that  the  best  and 
truest  lives  are  those  who  strew  all  the  years  with 
the  sweet  aroma  of  loving  and  self-sacrificing 
deeds.  Did  you  ever  go,  in  summer,  to  the  great 
marshes  of  our  fresh-water  lakes,  and  in  the  little 
bayous,  where  the  muck  and  grasses  are  so  thick 


BOYVILLE.  215 

it  is  difficult  to  even  row  a  boat  ?  If  not,  it  will  pay 
you  to  go.  You  find  the  white  water  lilies,  dotted 
here  and  there  all  over  this  forsaken  waste.  They 
take  root  and  grow  silently  amid  the  slime  and 
mud  in  the  quiet  waters,  until,  in  mid-summer, 
they  open  their  creamy  beauty  to  the  persuasion 
of  the  sunshine,  the  glory  and  idealization  of  all 
flowers.  So  amid  the  lowest  and  poorest  of  hu- 
manity, among  its  shadows  and  mists,  we  can 
sow,  day  by  day,  our  small  seeds  of  gentle  and 
generous  deeds,  not  knowing  when  they  take  root, 
or  expecting  to  ever  behold  their  unfolding  into 
the  blossoms  on  the  great  river  of  time. 

To  have  a  perfect  government  we  must  have 
a  perfect  people,  and  that  cannot  be  accomplished 
unless  we  educate,  unless  we  train,  our  boys  in 
the  right  direction.  If  we  do  our  share  in  this 
generation  it  will  be  easier  for  those  who  follow. 

The  more  you  mingle  among  newsboys  the 
easier  it  is  to  learn  how  to  influence  and  guide 
them  in  the  right  path. 

They  will  open  out  to  you  a  world  you  have 
never  found,  a  world  full  of  sunshine.  If  you  are 
inclined  to  serve  these  boys,  and  are  willing  to 
try  to  teach  them  how  to  live  right,  you  will  build 


2i6  BOYVILLE. 

for  yourself  a  crown  of  happiness  in  this  world 
that  all  the  wealth  of  a  nation  cannot  purchase. 


CHAPTER  XXXX. 

It  is  hoped  that  the  preceding-  pages  have 
given  the  reader  some  idea  of  the  workings  of 
Boyville,  of  the  self-governing  plan  carried  on 
successfully  for  many  years.  It  has  demonstrated 
the  fact,  to  the  president  and  his  faithful  associa- 
ces,  the  trustees,  and  the  officers  of  the  auxiliaries, 
that  boys  can  govern  themselves,  that  they  can 
build  up  and  carry  on  the  work  that  has  usually 
been  done  by  older  persons.  Corporal  punishment 
is  not  necessary  and  no  arbitrary  authority  is 
needed.  There  is  nothing  compulsory  about  the 
entire  work  of  the  association.  The  simplest 
methods  are  always  adopted,  keeping  in  view  the 
wishes  of  the  boy.  Not  by  advanced  theories 
that  reach  beyond  the  comprehension  of  the  boy, 
but  by  gradually  introducing  good  principles  that 
have  a  tendency  to  uplift  the  boy,  and  following 
as  nearly  as  possible  the  lines  he  is  interested  in. 

Through  the  ever-willing  assistance  of  the 
Humane  officers,  and  later,  the  splendid  work 
of  the  Juvenile  Court,  the  association  has  been 
able  to  get  behind  the  cause  of  much  of  the  wrong- 
doing of  the  newsboys,  by  reaching  their  parents. 


2i8  BOYVILLE. 

Any  good  physician,  to  cure  a  disease,  will  make 
every  efifort  possible  to  discover  and  cure  the 
cause.  There  is  an  old  saying:  "A  stitch  in  time 
saves  nine."  This  is  certainly  true  and  applicable 
to  work  among  newsboys.  We  agree  with  the 
many  good  things  said  and  written  by  the  late 
Samuel  M.  Jones,  and  this  in  particular:  "The 
only  way  to  help  people  is  to  give  them  an  oppor- 
tunity to  help  themselves." 

Our  cities  are  full  of  boys  growing  up  to  man- 
hood without  advice,  without  help.  They  are 
turned  aside  to  do  the  best  they  can,  to  battle  with 
life  with  everything  against  them.  The  question 
to  thinking  men  today  is,  shall  we  permit  these 
boys  to  continue  on  the  certain  road  to  ruin,  or 
shall  we  turn  a  few  steps  out  of  our  way  to  lend 
a  helping  hand  ?  Shall  we  wait  until  they  become 
confirmed  criminals  and  are  serving  sentences  in 
prisons  before  we  try  to  help  them? 

It  is  much  easier  to  save  a  soul  in  a  healthy 
and  satisfied,  comfortable-feeling  body,  than  in 
a  body  wasted  by  want  and  with  a  mind  diseased 
by  injustice,  cruelty  and  wrong. 

The  good  accomplished  by  the  members  of 
The  Boyville  Newsboys'  Association,  we  hope, 
will  go  on  forever,  and  that  this  generation  may 


BOYVILLE.  219 

prove  the  best  and  our  people  continue  to  be  the 
most  prosperous,  and  our  boys  grow  up  to  be  God- 
fearing, honest  men,  is  the  prayer  of  every  man 
and  woman  of  our  land.  But  prayers  will  never 
be  answered  if  we  sit  with  our  hands  folded  wait- 
ing for  someone  to  do  the  work. 

In  these  hurrying  days,  when  life  is  becoming 
complicated  in  so  many  ways;  when  the  love  of 
money  is  greater  than  the  love  of  mankind,  you 
wonder  where  can  real  happiness  be  found. 

Let  us  kindly  suggest  a  new  work,  a  new  field 
of  labor;  a  field  that  may  test  human  goodness 
and  human  ability,  but  where  you  will  reap  more 
than  riches,  more  than  fame. 

Begin  today,  go  out  upon  the  streets,  work 
among  the  newsboys,  reach  down  to  those  below, 
and  ofifer  a  hand  to  lift  them  up.  Throw  around 
them  the  proper  protection  and  influence.  In 
your  own  city,  your  own  town,  at  your  own 
doors,  are  acres  of  diamonds  only  waiting  for 
you  to  help  in  the  work  of  polishing. 


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